Signal-free route to new airport

Signal-free route to new airport

With the international airport moving towards completion in the next two months, it has been proposed to make the entire route signal-free

Infrastructure around the city is gearing up to fulfil the needs of the new international airport coming up at Devanahalli. With the deadline for its completion set for March this year, connectivity from the city to the airport has become the main concern. To address this issue and in a move to allow faster travel, the entire stretch from the GPO to the new airport has been declared a separate traffic corridor and will soon become signal-free.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will make all the junctions from High Grounds to Hebbal flyover signal-free for smooth flow of traffic. This will take place in phases, between seven junctions on the way to the airport. Critical junctions like High Grounds, Windsor Manor, Cauvery Theatre junction, BDA junction, Sanjaynagar and CBI junctions, Anandnagar (near Baptist hospital), and the junction near Hebbal police station will have underpasses.
Krishna Reddy, Chief Engineer for major roads, BBMP said, "While the road widening works already began three months ago, the pre-cast elements will be placed in the Cauvery and BDA junctions in the middle of this month, using the precast box segmental construction technology. The casting is being done at two factories, one in Seshadripuram and the other on Bellary Road. They will just be assembled at the required places."
Before March, all the underpasses will be completed, in time for the airport's inauguration. While the underpasses at the Cauvery and BDA junctions will be completed by the end of this month, the Windsor Manor one will be ready by February, and the remaining four will be completed by March end. As the underpasses are complete, that particular junction will become signalfree."
This will ensure uninterrupted flow of traffic with no blockages as the pedestrians will be encouraged to use the underpasses. After the Hebbal flyover, the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) will erect roadside barricades and signs in a list of places that have been prepared. Centre medians will be put in place to avoid crisscrossing of roads. Work is progressing as per schedule and it was also reviewed a few days ago by a high power committee with senior advisors to the Governor.
With regard to the distribution of traffic personnel to regulate traffic along this route, ACP (North) K H Chandrashekhar said, "Traffic personnel from the jurisdiction concerned will man the traffic in their respective areas. In case of any shortage in a particular area, traffic police from some other areas will be called in to help them out."
To avoid bottlenecks that may arise at the time of accidents, 'Tigers' or towing vehicles will be deployed along with police personnel to take the required action. K C Ramamurthy, ACP (Traffic and Security) said, "Four towing vehicles will be situated at appropriate places along the airport route. Emergency ambulance services will also be made available easily. These services will be located close to the police stations to facilitate communication and immediate action."
The entire operation of making the corridor signalfree, regulating the traffic, and removing bottlenecks will be co-ordinated between the BBMP, the NHAI, and the Traffic police.
Chandrashekhar added "We are ready and well-prepared to handle this situation. As soon as the new airport starts functioning, we will swing into action."