Airport Road flyover proves many wrong as traffic flow improves

Airport Road flyover proves many wrong as traffic flow improves
Vijay Times

THE Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) seems to have learnt lessons from its mistakes committed earlier.

While flyovers like Anandarao Circle and Hebbal, also built by the BDA, have literally failed to ease traffic congestion, the Airport Road Flyover, inaugurated on July 12, has come as an answer to the prayers of harried motorists using the stretch between Koramangala and Indiranagar (the ramp connecting Domlur with the Indiranagar 100 ft Road).

On Friday evening, when this reporter was present at the flyover at Domlur for a couple of hours, vehicles were seen zooming past at high speeds amidst a light drizzle.

Some of the motorists using the flyover said that the flyover was proving to be really useful as it was helping them reaching their destinations on time.

They also pointed out that the flyover had helped reduce travelling time as well as the distance by a considerable margin.

However, some motorists pointed out that the traffic flow occasionally got affected at the place where the flyover began at Indiranagar 100 ft Road during peak hours. BBV VT Tcaught up with some of the people whove been regularly using the flyover from the time it was thrown open to the public by the Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. These motorists had to, prior to the construction of the flyover, bear the brunt of traffic jams during peak hours. PPrra akkaasshh , a resident of Adugodi and an auto driver, said a majority of his passengers were people who headed towards Koramangala, which is home to a number of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) units and software companies. "Earlier, it was horrible and we used to curse ourselves for having to travel on this stretch," Prakash said.

"Now, this flyover is benefitting people who wish to go to Old Madras Road, Banasawadi, Indiranagar and Byappanahalli areas. However, those who want to reach Koramangala from Ulsoor have to take a detour as there is no provision for taking a right turn. Motorists have to go via Domlur," the driver opined.

"Some passengers also say that the fare has come down by Rs 15 and it has saved precious time during peak hours," he added.

GGu ur ru ummuurrtth hy y,, a process executive with Progeon company situated in Koramangala, said that earlier they had to take a circuitous route to reach M G Road, Shivajinagar and other central business districts.

"Travelling on a narrow road when there is a traffic jam is horrendous," he said. The flyover was the nearest way to reach several software firms, he added.

B u s i n e s s m a n SSaaddiiqq , a resident of BTM Layout, said that with the opening of Airport Road Flyover, they could keep their appointments. Earlier, there had been occasions when he had had to reschedule his engagements, if he opted for this route.

"If the BDA inaugurates the remaining loops, the traffic movement will be smoothened further," he said.

On the other hand, the recently inaugurated Anandarao Circle Flyover has not helped resolve traffic snarls. On the contrary, traffic jams have become the order of the day both at the place where the flyover begins near Khoday Circle and at the old City Central Jail.

Ditto with the Hebbal flyover built by the BDA and the Sirsi Circle flyover built by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP).