Straight road to ease traffic

Straight road to ease traffic
BY CHANDRASHEKAR G.
BENGALURU







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The Bruhat Ben galuru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) plans to decongest the busy Khoday Circle and Okalipuram Road may finally take off after a delay of three months. The project involves straightening the road stretch from Khoday Circle to Okalipuram Junction.

The delay in the project has forced motorists to take a zig zag ride on the stretch. The project is likely to get the government’s nod in the next 10 days.

With infrastructure projects gaining pace across the city and work on the metro station at Majestic likely to start shortly, the BBMP wants to start the project soon to prevent traffic congestion and allow the movement of more vehicles coming from the Majestic area.

The project was put on hold for various reasons.

For one, the BBMP requires land from the railways for which a series of meeting were held with railway authorities. A couple of power point presentations were made and the changes suggested by the Railways are being incorporated, said sources in BBMP.

The Railways has already agreed to part with their land for the project for which they will be provided land elsewhere. The Railways has also suggested the construction of ramps or an elevated road for vehicles entering and exiting Okali puram station.

Manasa Consultants have been chosen for providing a detailed project report and for consultancy. With railways building a new station at Okalipuram, the initial plan was altered a bit, the sources said.

“Traffic jams are common during peak hours and last for at least two hours. For vehicles moving from Sujatha underpass towards Majestic, traffic gets congested at Okalipuram signal and at the two curves on the railway track. Straightening the road from Khoday Circle till Okalipuram Junction will prevent congestion and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles,” the sources explained.

“Once work on the Metro station at Majestic begins, buses will be diverted via Okalipuram Road. The road has to be straightened on a war footing,” said the sources. The project, apart from straightening the road also involves construction of two approach ramps for the smooth flow of vehicles. The project is estimated to cost Rs 80-90 crore.

With the Metro Rail touching Okalipuram, the project has been designed to ensure that there are no conflict zones.

WHAT THEY SAY ‘ The project will ease congestion and benefit peo ple. By straighten ing the road, the curves can be removed which will automatically help decongest the road.

S. Suresh Kumar, Urban development minister The idea is excel lent. If the road is straightened, half the traffic conges tion will be solved.

Okalipuram being a major junction, BBMP and railways must com plete work at the earliest.

Priya Hassan, Actress BBMP is planning two underpasses each at Khoday Circle and Okalipu ram Junction. If the ‘ ‘ work is completed early before the Metro work starts it will benefit the people.

Dinesh Gundurao, Gandhinagar MLA