Gridlock spoils Saturday fun

Gridlock spoils Saturday fun
Motorists Taking Alternative Roads Adds To Confusion
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Ongoing infrastructure works in the city are affecting traffic like never before. There are many areas in Bangalore where one has to wait for well over 15 minutes just to pass through a short stretch. Residency Road, for example.
Traffic on this road on Saturday — all through the day — was the worst-ever in recent times, according to motorists who experienced the all-out chaos. The line of vehicles from Brigade Road stretched till Double Road and Richmond Circle flyover. The situation turned unmanageable after school vehicles came out from the gates since it was time for the institutions to call it a day. A large number of people also gathered on MG Road to enjoy their weekend, and that added to the chaos, as also pressure on traffic personnel.
After things turned for the better towards evening, traffic police said the massive traffic jam was a result of ongoing civic works in and around where Brigade Road and Residency Road meet. BBMP is repairing a stormwater drain in the area.
ACP traffic (east) A Nagappa had another explanation: “Civic works at Opera Junction have created a ripple effect on traffic on critical roads,” he said.
Traffic was also affected on St Mark’s Road and other stretches connecting Residency Road. Richmond Circle flyover was the worst hit. Commuters were frustrated because of the long wait as traffic personnel were busy trying to ease the jam.
Other roads were affected because motorists spilled into them in order to avoid the chaos on Residency Road. It seemed thousands of commuters decided to avoid Residency Road at the same moment, which led to a steep climb in traffic volume .
S Anirudh, who was on a two-wheeler, said: “I was going to MG Road, but when I saw the traffic on Double Road, I took a detour towards Mission Road and then to Corporation Circle. After that I hit Kasturba Road and finally reached my destination.”
BBMP officials said they have taken up maintenance work on the Residency Road stormwater drain using pre-cast segment technology. The work includes widening and fencing of the drain and will be completed on Monday. So brace for the chaos till then.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com

CIVIC WORK FIRST, PARTY LATER: Repair work on a stormwater drain at the Brigade Road-Residency Road junction resulted in a massive traffic jam in the area on Saturday. Weekend shoppers were the worst hit