Malleswaram residents oppose grade separator

Malleswaram residents oppose grade separator
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Residents of Malleswaram are now up in arms against Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BMP) grade separator project in their area. Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative, the residents association is spearheading the agitation.

Recent reports on fruitless fly-overs and grade separators in the city have made the residents protest the proposal. After series of protests by the residents of Basavanagudi against the proposed fly-over at Ramakrishna square, residents of Malleswaram have strongly criticised the proposed grade separator at the 5th cross and Sampige road in Malleswaram.

The Association has discussed the pros and cons of the proposed grade separator project with Bangalore Mahanagara Palike planners after studying it in detail.

The Association has expressed its concern that the proposed separator would be included in the list of some other not-so-useful projects like Anand Rao Circle and National College fly-overs, which ease traffic at respective intersections, but have created devastation at some other places.

According to experts, the Association says, grade separators are only useful on wide roads (120 ft and more), with long entry and exit, like the separators at Mekhri Circle, Modi Hospital and Dairy Circle.

Whereas the proposed separator at the 5th cross, which is about 80 ft wide and feeds to Link Road, which is about 30 ft wide at its intersection with 5th cross.

The Association has also opposed the proposal to shift the bus stop. The separator will congest parking space for visitors at police station, banks and other shops.

The Association has requested the government and the BMP to collect fresh data on volume of traffic on Sampige Road, Margosa Road, Link Road and other key intersections.

As a short-term solution, the Association has suggested for the construction of a new bus bay and diversion of moffusil buses through chord road and Sujatha Theatre Road.