From circle to straight drive

From circle to straight drive

Govt approves BBMP plan to modernise Khodey Circle-Okalipuram Junction stretch

Srikanth Hunasavadi. Bangalore
Motorists used to traffic hold-ups at Okalipuram signal can soon heave a sigh of relief.
The state government has finally accepted the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's proposal for straightening the stretch from Khodey Circle to Okalipuram Junction.
Work may start in two months. Also ramps may be built for vehicles entering and exiting at the Okalipuram end of the Bangalore City railway station
The BBMP proposal, which was submitted a year ago, had been put on the backburner for various reasons. The project is estimated to cost between Rs80 crore and Rs90 crore.
Since the work on Metro station at Majestic will be taken up shortly, BBMP will start the project to accommodate more vehicles coming from Majestic.
Law and parliamentary affairs minister S Sureshkumar said, "BBMP's proposal has been accepted and we are working out the modalities."
"We plan to improve on the proposal after discussions with Palike officials and local MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao. Once the plan is finalised, work will start in two months," he said.
BBMP has held several rounds of talks with the South Western Railway (SWR) for acquiring the land and incorporated changes suggested by SWR. SWR has finally agreed to part with the required land after getting compensation from BBMP.
The SWR has also suggested that ramps or elevated roads be built for vehicles entering and exiting at the Okalipuram end of the Bangalore City railway station. Since, SWR is building a new entrance to the station at Okalipuram side, the initial plan was altered a little.
There is a regular two-hour hold up at Okalipuram signal and at the two curves at the railway track for vehicles coming from Sujatha underpass towards Majestic. Straightening the road from Khodey Circle till Okalipuram Junction would prevent the traffic hold up.
"If work on the Metro station begins at Majestic, buses will be diverted through Okalipuram Road. However, the road has to be straightened and the work has to be taken up on war footing," sources said.
But since the Metro Rail alignment also runs on the Okalipuram road, the plan is being designed to ensure that the projects do not stand in the way of one another.bad stretch: Commuters can heave a sigh of relief as the road between Khodey Circle and Okalipuram Junction will be modernised shortly