Goof-up chokes roads in city

Goof-up chokes roads in city
BENGALURU







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A communication goof-up between BBMP and the traffic police saw harried motorists stuck on traffic-choked roads in Bengaluru’s central business district on Saturday afternoon.

Vehicles were stuck in traffic jams that started on Double Road and continued all the way to Koramangala and BTM Layout after BBMP started repair work on a major drain on Residency Road without the public being given prior information.

While the top brass of both departments refused to accept responsibility for failing to announce the traffic diversions imposed on Saturday, commuters will have to bear with chaotic traffic for the next three days. BBMP commissioner S. Subramanya said emergency work had to be done on the drain. “The traffic police was informed three days before the work commenced,” he said.

However, when Deccan Chronicle contacted deputy commissioner of police (East) K. Srinivas, he said, “We received the BBMP letter only on Saturday morning.” Commuters were caught unawares, even as the traffic police struggled to deal with the huge traffic jams on several roads as BBMP began unannounced repair work in the centre of town at the ResidencyBrigade Road junction on Saturday.

“The BBMP gave a letter asking for diversion of traffic only on Saturday morning. Since it was an emergency, the diversions could not be announced sooner,” DCP East (traffic) K. Srinivas explained.

He admitted traffic was badly hit due to the work being done by the BBMP, but claimed the situation was brought under control by evening.

“As we expect more jams elsewhere, we have made the Garuda Mall-D’Souza Square Road a two-way and also reversed the one-way on Magrath Road. We will introduce suitable diversions at other places if necessary,” Mr Srinivas added.

But people will have to put up with the inconvenience for the next three days as it may take that long for the BBMP to remodel the storm water drain at the junction. The work was an emergency and if unattended would have caused the road to cave in, claimed BBMP officers.

But as the workers got busy digging up the road, bumper-to-bumper traffic was seen on most roads leading to the Residency Road-Brigade Road junction. Traffic was heavy on all roads leading to Residency Road with private and BMTC buses giving other vehicles a difficult time. Vehicles were caught in traffic jams on St Mark’s Road, Double Road, Wilson Garden, JC Road and in parts of Jayanagar Worst hit was the Residency Road flyover which saw a traffic jam for over six hours. The traffic police said they could do little as they had received late intimation about the repairs from the BBMP.

BBMP for its part justified the sudden repairs. “The old drain which had not been inspected for the last 10 years was in a dilapidated condition and was damaged by rodents breeding beneath it,” BBMP commissioner S. Subramanya, said. “The drain was blocked due to the collapse of the retaining wall inside the slab drain and the water was backlogging. The drain will be remodelled into a box drain using pre-cast elements,” an official at the site added.

Traffic cops have made alternative arrangements to help iron out jams on the roads. Vehicles on Cubbon Road moving towards Cauvery Emporium on MG Road will have to take a right turn at military quarters. Two-way traffic will continue on Sunday between Garuda Mall and D’Souza Square and the oneway on Magarath Road will continue to flow in the reverse direction.