MAGIC BOX or tragic box, ask residents

MAGIC BOX or tragic box, ask residents
— Sonal Naroth and Smriti Kumar

Bangalore: The magic box and mini-flyover on Sankey Road were built to ease traffic congestion, but they’ve made life miserable for residents on Palace Cross Road. The one-way rule there hasn’t helped either and they’d rather have the traffic police revert to the original routing.
Residents want reversal of the one-way rule on the cross road and installation of signals on Palace Cross Road to cut down speed of vehicles. They’d like vehicles coming from Mount Carmel College (MCC) to go on to the main road rather than get into Palace Cross Road and then on to Sankey Road.
N Rama Krishna, a resident of the area, is clearly dissatisfied with this traffic nightmare. “We are doomed. I can’t even take out my car and there is no peace for us from morning to night. There was no planning and citizens were not consulted when decisions were taken on magic box and allowing vehicles on the cross road.”
Traffic on this narrow road has increased marginally because vehicles from Cantonment Station and Vasanth Nagar are diverted onto this road, while the main road, especially to the left of the magic box, is deserted.
To add to residents’ woes, to avoid the longer route to reach the Guttahalli bus-stop, vehicles opt for a road which has a ‘namesake’ one-way sign — just adjacent to the Palace Cross Road. This was once a quiet residential area where people could peacefully go for walks.
“The police put up the one-way sign and created a road block only after we protested and stopped traffic. But, most vehicles ignore the sign and continue to use this road. My 85-yearold aunt cannot even go for a stroll,” says B R Manjunath, a social worker, who stays here. The flyover has completely altered their lives. Manjunath adds: “What can be done now? Obviously, the flyover cannot be broken down.”
The other complaint is that the magic box is too narrow. Hariharan R, another resident, says: “My office vehicle cannot even make a turn.”
The ‘match box,’ as some residents call it, has also raised other issues. For residents who stay near Guttahalli Circle, the one-way rule means they have to take a U-turn at the signal near the Sadashivnagar swimming pool to reach home. B Devidas says, “There is no way to come back from Guttahalli Circle; I have to take a circuitous route.”
Jacinta D’Souza, employee of a private firm on Palace Cross Road, says, “If I want to catch an auto home, I have to cross a very busy road — the traffic is heavy and because there’s no signal, it is near impossible to cross it.”
Also, there is no space for pedestrians and roads are not very durable and pockmarked with potholes, especially after the rains. Many shops around the flyover have suffered a dip in sales. Some restaurants even close on Sundays as their business has been hit drastically. Shopowner K V Mamtha says: “Since customers have to take a longer route, they prefer to shop elsewhere. Our business has gone down by almost 50%.”
Residents feel a few minor changes can improve the situation to a great extent. Florist Sudhakar Reddy says, “A traffic signal should be installed or police must regulate traffic
during peak hours near the magic box.”
Some others also feel that reversal of the one-way rule may help. Prof. M N Sreehari, who described magic boxes as tragic boxes, feels only clear-cut signboards, proper installation and strict implementation of regulations would ensure safety.
While traffic congestion, noise pollution and the risk involved in crossing the road are serious issues, one resident pointed out that the entire structure was ugly. The optimistic few hoping for a better tomorrow are hopelessly outnumbered by those who have lost all hope.