Jayamahal Road a nightmare for vehicles

Jayamahal Road a nightmare for vehicles
Wednesday August 13 2008 04:10 IST

Express News Service

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BANGALORE: The stretch from Mekhri Circle to Cantonment Railway Station is a nightmare for vehicular movement.

Traffic jams are common, with motorists trying to find alternative means to reach their destination.

Traffic, especially in the peak hours, moves at a snail's pace.

Though there is a proposal to widen the road to 80 feet, the Palike is taking its own time due to various constraints. Issues like felling of trees and land acquisition has to be cleared by the authorities.

Tree felling has been a major concern at every roadwidening project.

"This stretch was already narrow and with the traffic department dividing the road a couple of months ago, it is even more difficult to drive. It is impossible for two four-wheelers to move alongside and road users witness traffic jams almost everyday," said Sushma Pandit, a resident of RT Nagar.

Though there is vast vacant area on either side of the road, it is difficult to take up the widening work since defence land occupies one side and the Palace Ground is on the other. BBMP needs time to complete the land acquisition process.

Speaking to this website's newspaper, senior BBMP officials said: "The environment groups are opposed to cutting trees for the sake of road widening. However, development is also inevitable and therefore the High Court has formed a sub-committee to help us take up infrastructure work in the City.

Huge trees are a hurdle for road widening, but once the work starts, they will be transplanted in the buffer zones.

Constraints are inevitable in any development project, but the civic authority has to solve the issues keeping in mind both the development and public interest.

The Palike has called for tenders and the work on Jayamahal Road is expected to begin soon.