Minister for wider underpasses in city

Minister for wider underpasses in city
BENGALURU







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BBMP has called for tenders for metered parking on 37 roads
Excise minister Katta Subramanya Naidu on Thursday blasted civic authorities for building traffic underpasses that are too narrow for comfort along Bellary Road, prompting BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya to promise modifications.

The minister who was on an inspection of underpasses along Bellary Road and drove through them to prove his point, said: “There is no need for such narrow and congested underpasses. BBMP should stop constructing them. Underpasses should be wide enough for vehicles to pass through easily. Cars will have to take reverse before getting through the underpass creating traffic jams. It’s poor planning.” He noted that the underpass at Anandnagar is just 3 metres wide and suggested that underpasses planned in future should be at least 4.5 metres wide. The “magic box” underpass along Bellary Road is so badly planned that traffic piles up on the busy road that connects the city with the International Airport, he charged.

BBMP commissioner Subramanya responded by assuring the minister that the underpass will be widened, even by dismantling the existing one, if need be. He said the Sanjaynagar junction will have an underpass with 4.5 metres width to allow heavy vehicles also to pass.

The minister said the roads connecting Bellary Road with Sanjaynagar, Anandnagar and Vishwanatha Nagenahalli will be widened to 100 ft, 80 ft and 60 ft respectively.

BBMP authorities have been directed to complete the road work at the underpass near the Cantonment Railway Station within three months to allow free flow of vehicles.

The minister said ABIDe meetings are being held to ensure upgrading of Bengaluru’s infrastructure. “Since BBMP is not equipped to complete all the works, the BDA has been involved to complete works at the earliest. It has been entrust ed with works worth Rs 700 crore,” Mr Naidu said.

Paid parking will be introduced in busy shopping areas and highly populated localities, he said, but noted that there was no takers although BBMP has called for tenders for metered parking on 37 roads.