BIA bane for residents of Sanjaynagar

BIA bane for residents of Sanjaynagar
BY CHANDRASHEKAR G.
BENGALURU







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‘ We are building a 6-metre underpass for vehicles and a 3-metre underpass for pedestrians ‘ to help them cross the road
With every under pass that is built on the road to the Bengaluru International Airport, the lives of the people in nearby residential areas undergo a drastic change as traffic conditions worsen and accidents rise.

The hell began for people of Sanjaynagar and Ganganagar after work started on the underpass at the Sanjaynagar junction and has continued as the project doesn’t seem anywhere near completion.

“We have lost our peace of mind since the work began on the underpass. There is tension in every house in Ganganagar and Sanjaynagar until every member of the family returns home safe,” say residents of these areas.

“We are on tentherhooks from the time the children leave the house till they return as there are frequent accidents on this stretch. We cannot go with them everywhere. Our repeated pleas to the traffic police and the BBMP to provide safe passage for commuters on Bellary Road have been ignored,” complain anxious parents.

Just four months ago, Sanjaynagar and Ganganagar were peaceful areas close to the green campus of the University of Agriculture Sciences. Pollution was an alien word here, but it has now become an all too familiar phenomenon, say the residents, blaming the various projects undertaken on Bellary Road for providing a smooth passage to the new international airport since it opened in May.

For senior citizens, children, and the physically challenged crossing the road is almost an impossible task as vehicles heading to BIA zip past without any concern for pedestrians. The taxis are the biggest nuisance, say the people, as they speed more than the other vehicles.

“No vehicle travels at less than 60 km per hour,” they say. The absence of a foot path makes matters worse.

Shopkeepers, like Mr Manikanta, say they have lost their regular business due to the ongoing road widening work and the magic boxes being built at the Sanjaynagar junction.

BBMP engineers, however, assure that that the two magic box underpasses at the Sanjaynagar Junction will be completed soon and solve all problems of the people related to traffic in the area. “We are building a 6-metre underpass for vehicles and a 3-metre underpass exclusively for pedestrians to help them cross the road. Both the underpasses and the surface movement of vehicles towards BIA will be made signal-free. The work will be completed in 60 days and by January they will be ready for public use,” the engineers promise.

The public will have to cooperate with the BBMP for speedy completion of the project, they add.