Minsk Square to be blocked for three years

Minsk Square to be blocked for three years
DH News Service,Bangalore:
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has confirmed that work on the underground portion of the project running through Minsk Square will commence in June 2009.
Commuter woes due to the Metro project construction is getting worse. Minsk Square in the heart of the City will be blocked for three years from June 2009, according to Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Praveen Sood. But he offers some relief when he says, “Minsk Square will be closed only after alternative routes for people will be ready.”
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has confirmed that work on the underground portion of the project running through Minsk Square will commence in June 2009.
On Monday, at an interactive session with members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Sood spoke on the plus points of long term infrastructure projects apart from addressing the short term fears of congesting traffic.
Although it could be considered a distress for Bangaloreans, in the long run, the ‘Namma Metro’ project will be a boon for easing the city traffic, he told the gathering.
Anticipating huge congestion in the City when the work on ‘Namma Metro’ underground lines will begin, Sood added that the areas along the Central College area into Vidhan Soudha and Minsk square will be quite a task to manage in the coming few months. “But the Metro will ease the traffic pressure once it is completed in the long run,” he said.
In a light vein, he added, “Not to put you into depression or anything, but sir, the worst is yet to come. We are already working on alternative roads to get you home.”
Providing statistics on traffic violations, Sood said that the Bangalore Traffic police have raked in almost Rs 28 crore from 19 lakh violators as fine in 2008-09. In 2009-10, the department has already collected Rs. 7.5 crore.
“While every year we collect nearly Rs 16 to 17 crore, this year it has risen even more,” he added.
On the role that the traffic police can play, Sood reminded the people that he and his department are only facilitators. “One Sood cannot create changes in traffic management. We need other agencies also to function in the same manner,” he said, adding that most projects by other agencies will help ease the traffic congestion.
Sood defended his department against the questions posed by various quarters of the industry. “We are a department of only 2,800 personnel. With leaves, sickness and three shifts, only 2,000 traffic personnel are available for a city with nearly 38 lakh motor vehicles,” he said.
New initiatives
Sood said that the number of signal cameras across the city will be doubled from 80 to 160 in the coming two months. Bangalore police will also be placing real time traffic updates along important roads entering the City on electronic variable message signs (VMS). “The first one will be placed along Silk Board in the coming two months,” he added.