More land parcels for development on cards

More land parcels for development on cards
Infrastructure projects planned, and changing traffic pattern in the city, open up potential land parcels for development, writes B S Manu Rao


Who would have believed if you said, "I travelled on stretches of Airport Road last evening at 60 kmph", before the airport shifted? But ever since the airport moved to Devanahalli, it is common to come across people pleasantly surprised with the easy traffic conditions on Airport Road.
Those using the road frequently, and used to the congestion and bumper-tobumper traffic, find the smooth drive a pleasure. Another new feature is the drastically reduced number of traffic policemen manning the stretch between the HAL airport and Domlur. This points to the significantly reduced traffic volume and therefore need for their presence on the streets.
The Airport Road flyover plays the lead role in easing traffic at the crucial and busy 100 Feet Road - Airport Road junction. The flyover makes it possible to take this junction without a stop and makes reaching destinations across the junction much quicker and easier. It is a pointer to how infrastructure can make the city efficient. In spite of the large number of vehicles on the roads, it will still be easy to traverse the length and breadth of the city with effective, solid infrastructure.
This is not new to the city. The dreaded wait at Mekhri Circle at one time slid quietly into the city's pages of forgettable history with the grade separator. This project, along with the Hebbal Flyover, paved the way to create a smooth ride to Devanahalli airport. These go a long way in making the job of creating a 'signal-free north corridor' relatively easier.
Some of the city's new projects promise to ease the traffic condition further and change the dynamics of the city. The Metro Rail and planned Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) will take a significant number of vehicles off the city's core business areas.
So is the city's traffic pattern changing? What difference will it make to living and working in the city?
"The direction of traffic has certainly changed. Around 30,000 people go to the airport daily. Now this means around 15,000 cars at least. And considering the to and fro journey, it means 30,000 cars on the road to the airport daily. This traffic volume has been taken off the two-lane Airport Road. That is why you feel the difference even down till the Trinity Circle junction and Richmond Road", says Praveen Sood, Addl Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
Fortunately, this volume flows easier on the Bellary Road stretches that are broader. "After the on-going works are complete, it will be a 4-5 lane road. The Airport Road is a two-lane road. So, the problem of congestion will not be as acute", says Praveen Sood. Here again, infrastructure plays a significant part in easing traffic.
"The PRR will be a signalfree road. It will have grade separators at intersections. The road will be a six-lane one with a two-lane service road", says A V Rangesh, Town Planning Member, Bangalore Development Authority. This project will ease the pressure on the Outer Ring Road. "Traffic moving from Tumkur Road to Old Madras Road or Hosur Road need not pass through the city. This road will act as a bypass for the National Highway", explains Rangesh.
Impact on
development
This change in the traffic pattern and character of the city's connectivity will open up opportunities. "The PRR will open up land parcels for development. The intersections with the Outer Ring Road will see development. Also, the service road running alongside will mean connectivity that will open up possibilities for development", says Rangesh.
The consequent easing up of traffic on different arterial roads in the city, thanks to these projects, will make more destinations further away accessible. If traffic and time taken to reach were a deterrent to look at outlying areas in some parts, the case will be different then.
It is now worth picking up a road map of the city and checking out the potential of some these locations. They will turn out to be a good buy in a matter of time.