Take this road at your own risk

Take this road at your own risk
The busy Konanakunte junction on Kanakapura Road has long been known for frequent accidents and deaths. Buses and trucks bear down on pedestrians and motorists have no way to beat the unrelenting traffic. Aarthi R gives you a spot report
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The death of 10-yearold Nandish from Doddakalasandra, who was crushed by a speeding lorry about a year ago, is still etched in the memory of residents on Kanakapura Road.
The past ten months have seen some concern and control measures. A broad central median was recently laid on the 2.5-km stretch from Yelachenahalli to Konanakunte Cross. Pedestrians say they now have some breathing space, as they can stand without the fear of being hit by oncoming vehicles. Girish of Balaji Medicals, a 5-year-old shop here, says: “In the past few months, I haven’t been hearing screeching halts and sudden crashes that often. Even the late-night rush is under control most of the time.’’
However, many others still feel the authorities have not learnt from past accidents. A tarred road and centre median are just not enough, they say. “There has not been a remarkable change. Even today, we see cyclists and those on two-wheelers struggling in-between big buses and trucks,’’ complains Srinivas, a resident, adding that the junction is usually jammed, especially during peak hours.“No amount of road-widening will seem enough to support this traffic unless vehicles are effectively controlled,’’ says Sidappa, a resident of Harinagar, who has been witnessing the chaos here since 1995. According to him, the biggest problem is caused by recklessly driven trucks that are behind most accidents here. There has been little or no effort to regularize their movement. “We need not ban them, but restricting the time when they can ply would greatly improve the situation,’’ he says.
Not just trucks, many point fingers at BMTC and KSRTC buses too. With no proper footpaths and crude bus stops that are nothing more than a small board hung on electric poles, commuters have a tough time boarding buses that stop right in the middle of the road. Most traffic jams occur when more than two buses stop.
All hell breaks loose when it rains. “Just be here at 10.30 am every day to witness the mess,’’ say passers-by, tired of negotiating stagnant pools of water while avoiding oncoming buses and trucks.