Second entry to be upgraded

Second entry to be upgraded

The Hindu

BMP, Railways will finalise agreement in this regard The Rs. 80-crore project envisages underground roads and multi-level flyovers around Okalipuram

BANGALORE: The long wait for upgradation of the second entry to the city railway station seems to be over. Commuters will soon be able to enjoy a smooth and congestion-free entry and exit at the station.

The drive through Fountain Circle, Okalipuram Junction, Sriramapura Junction and Old Mysore Road Junction will be free of traffic signals and the distance between Majestic and Rajajinagar will also be reduced.

This will happen once Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Railway authorities will finalise an agreement to start construction that promises to make access to the station easy and clear bottlenecks around it.

The project envisages a combination of underground roads and multi-level flyovers around Okalipuram. The Railways has agreed to the project details submitted by BMP.

The core of the new project, estimated to cost around Rs. 80 crore, is upgradation of the existing entry between platforms 7 and 8. The project utilises Railway land to cut across the existing bottlenecks between Rajajinagar entrance and Fountain Circle (Khoday's Junction) in Majestic area.

An eight-lane road from Fountain Circle will pass under the Railway Over Bridge (Chennai line), enter a tunnel and resurface near the Sriramapura junction on Sujatha Talkies Road.

Two multi-level parking bays will be built at the new terminal.

Provision for bus bays will be made on either side of the new road near Sriramapura Junction and foot overbridges will connect these bays to the railway station. A similar foot overbridge is planned from Kempe Gowda Bus Stand to the railway station. Vehicles from Rajajinagar towards the railway station will take the existing Sujatha Talkies Road, pass through Okalipuram Junction and take an up-ramp to enter the station.

Vehicles from Malleswaram side will take an up-ramp and proceed on a flyover, while those from Shanthala will take a left turn at Fountain Circle and take an up-ramp and a flyover to enter the station.

Differences between the Railways and the BMP over sharing of costs delayed the project. The Railways insisted the BMP should bear the entire cost as it was offering 13,000 sq.m. of its land and the BMP said the Ra"ilways should share the cost.