BMP, traffic police working to decongest city roads

BMP, traffic police working to decongest city roads

The Hindu

Several important road junctions may be redesigned

# Roads vulnerable to water logging being identified
# Concrete medians coming up over 10,000 metres of roads length

Bangalore: The traffic police and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike have joined hands to implement the 10-point programme announced last month by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

While a debate is on about whether there are 2.2 million or 2.4 million vehicles in the city, the need to improve the traffic situation has been felt by both agencies. At least potential investors should not be put off by the chaos on our roads, a police official felt.

With the civic body's cooperation now assured in terms of widening roads and intersections and in planning more parking space, the traffic police are hopeful that the joint efforts will bring better order on the roads. The joint project would give more attention to road engineering, a complete redesign of several important road junctions, asphalting of close to 200 km of roads, concrete medians on many roads, more visible road marking and signages and, if possible, widening 100 km of arterial roads.

The problem of roads getting flooded soon after a rainy spell, would receive due attention, BMP and police officials said. The work to remove silt from roadside drains and storm water channels would be completed, and the roads and intersections most vulnerable to water logging were being identified. The traffic police have identified the intersections where road width and traffic density allow for some drastic improvements, with feedback from a cross-section of road users. Improvements are possible at many junctions such as the one near the Coffee Board, K.H. Road (Double Road) and near Kumara Park and Windsor Sheraton Hotel. There may be changes at Trinity Circle and at a few other junctions also.

Road widening will be taken up on stretches of Old Madras Road, K.H. Road, Hosur Road near Johnson Market and around Jayamahal Circle. Concrete medians dividing opposing streams of traffic are coming up over 10,000 metres of roads length.