This way to hell

This way to hell
Deccan Herald

A portion of Bannerghatta Road — stretching from the burial ground to the Dairy Circle underpass — is partially asphalted and lacks a median, posing an extremely dangerous situation to pedestrians


Speeding traffic and no medians. A traffic cop, unmindful of the hapless you trying to cross the road with merciless drivers racing past. It takes a lot of gumption, above all great maneuvering skills for the people to cross City roads. Metrolife noticed this situation at a particular stretch on Bannerghatta Road where residents are put through an extreme test of skill, all at the expense of their lives, on a daily basis.

Defying death

A portion of Bannerghatta Road — stretching from the burial ground to the Dairy Circle underpass — is partially asphalted and lacks a median, posing an extremely dangerous situation to pedestrians always caught amidst the road-raged motorists trying to beat rush hour traffic. “It’s been over a year and the condition remains the same. Traffic police don’t even look in our direction when we are trying to cross the road which isn’t easy at all. The road isn’t tarred and this poses a risk to motorists in a City that has poor law enforcement,” says Nitin, a software professional.

This issue has been discussed umpteen number of times and as always, the traffic police are at the receiving end. But is it always the traffic police who are to be blamed? M A Saleem, DCP Traffic, East Division, disagrees. “There’s still drainage work that needs to be completed. Also, the road needs to asphalted and medians to be installed on Bannerghatta Road which is not the job of the Traffic Department. Once this is done, we have plans to build elevated pedestrain crossing at several points. But until then, people should cross the road at traffic junctions where policemen are posted and not anywhere they want to.”

The unfinished culvert and improper roads are clear indications of failure on the part of the concerned BMP authorities to complete the assigned work on time. When asked about pedestrian safety Jairaj, Commissioner, BMP, said, “Why does that road need a median?” but added that the BMP will consider a pedestrian crossing in the near future.

Traffic decongestion

Road widening is usually the immediate solution to ease out traffic. The recent project undertaken by the government and the Traffic Police Department on Hosur Road (from the old age home through Baldwin’s Boys College till Vellara Junction) required the buildings on these roads to give away over eight to 10 ft of their land to the government. According to Jairaj, BMP has called for tenders and the road will be complete within three months after the tender is approved.

The traffic signal in front of the military school is witness to some strange developments these days. The one-way (Langford Road) that runs perpendicular to Hosur Road hardly remains a one-way since BMTC buses that come from Hosur Road are allowed to take a turn there. These BMTC buses wait at the juntion for a long time for the rest of the vehicles from the opposite direction to give it ample space to move. Saleem has an interesting take on the issue. “On some roads, we have to allow BMTC buses to help the public who, otherwise will have to walk really far for the same bus.”

Everyday, the City grows 10-fold and dealing with it is no (let’s be practial) easy task. But what are the options we have? “The Volvo buses are a very good addition and it must be utilised. More peripheral ring roads, longer flyovers, organised traffic and of course road widening. But we are running out of roads as well,” says Saleem.

Bangalore certainly isn’t living up to its status of ‘the best place to be’ and the need of the hour is a responsible government, aggressive law enforcing officials and a proactive civil society. This way to hell
Madhumitha B
A portion of Bannerghatta Road — stretching from the burial ground to the Dairy Circle underpass — is partially asphalted and lacks a median, posing an extremely dangerous situation to pedestrians


Speeding traffic and no medians. A traffic cop, unmindful of the hapless you trying to cross the road with merciless drivers racing past. It takes a lot of gumption, above all great maneuvering skills for the people to cross City roads. Metrolife noticed this situation at a particular stretch on Bannerghatta Road where residents are put through an extreme test of skill, all at the expense of their lives, on a daily basis.

Defying death

A portion of Bannerghatta Road — stretching from the burial ground to the Dairy Circle underpass — is partially asphalted and lacks a median, posing an extremely dangerous situation to pedestrians always caught amidst the road-raged motorists trying to beat rush hour traffic. “It’s been over a year and the condition remains the same. Traffic police don’t even look in our direction when we are trying to cross the road which isn’t easy at all. The road isn’t tarred and this poses a risk to motorists in a City that has poor law enforcement,” says Nitin, a software professional.

This issue has been discussed umpteen number of times and as always, the traffic police are at the receiving end. But is it always the traffic police who are to be blamed? M A Saleem, DCP Traffic, East Division, disagrees. “There’s still drainage work that needs to be completed. Also, the road needs to asphalted and medians to be installed on Bannerghatta Road which is not the job of the Traffic Department. Once this is done, we have plans to build elevated pedestrain crossing at several points. But until then, people should cross the road at traffic junctions where policemen are posted and not anywhere they want to.”

The unfinished culvert and improper roads are clear indications of failure on the part of the concerned BMP authorities to complete the assigned work on time. When asked about pedestrian safety Jairaj, Commissioner, BMP, said, “Why does that road need a median?” but added that the BMP will consider a pedestrian crossing in the near future.

Traffic decongestion

Road widening is usually the immediate solution to ease out traffic. The recent project undertaken by the government and the Traffic Police Department on Hosur Road (from the old age home through Baldwin’s Boys College till Vellara Junction) required the buildings on these roads to give away over eight to 10 ft of their land to the government. According to Jairaj, BMP has called for tenders and the road will be complete within three months after the tender is approved.

The traffic signal in front of the military school is witness to some strange developments these days. The one-way (Langford Road) that runs perpendicular to Hosur Road hardly remains a one-way since BMTC buses that come from Hosur Road are allowed to take a turn there. These BMTC buses wait at the juntion for a long time for the rest of the vehicles from the opposite direction to give it ample space to move. Saleem has an interesting take on the issue. “On some roads, we have to allow BMTC buses to help the public who, otherwise will have to walk really far for the same bus.”

Everyday, the City grows 10-fold and dealing with it is no (let’s be practial) easy task. But what are the options we have? “The Volvo buses are a very good addition and it must be utilised. More peripheral ring roads, longer flyovers, organised traffic and of course road widening. But we are running out of roads as well,” says Saleem.

Bangalore certainly isn’t living up to its status of ‘the best place to be’ and the need of the hour is a responsible government, aggressive law enforcing officials and a proactive civil society.