Signal-free roads to pace up Bangalore

Signal-free roads to pace up Bangalore


With signal-free corridors, Bangalore could soon become a world-class city.
Raghavendra RFirst Published : 25 May 2009 11:47:21 AM ISTLast Updated : 25 May 2009 12:33:13 PM IST
BANGALORE: Bangalore could set out on the road to better traffic management and seamless traffic. BBMP has planned to turn the 10 busiest corridors in Bangalore into signal-free corridors on the lines of Bellary Road.
The project, which would be started by the BBMP in two phases, aims to reduce commuting time by at least 50 per cent, thus reducing fuel consumption.
The Traffic Engineering Cell of the BBMP has already identified 10 corridors of which five roads will be taken up for work in the first phase.
Sources said, the detailed project report and plan of action for the first phase was ready and the work will start from July if everything goes well.
They said that the pre-cast RCC box technology would be used wherever necessary for underpasses. “The signalfree corridors are a solution for the burgeoning vehicular population. Travelling time will come down considerably and also the initiative will save signals, electricity and traffic police workforce,” the sources explained.
There are around 72 junctions that come in these corridors and the estimated cost for each corridor would be approximately over Rs 60 crore. “The length of each corridor varies from a minimum of seven km to 14 km,” the sources said.
“Traffic-diversion plan is also ready, which will be used during the course of execution of work in consultation with the Bangalore city traffic police,” sources added.
Speaking to Express, BBMP chief engineer (major roads) T N Chikkarayappa said that “in a phased manner, four corridors will be taken up during this year from July. The total cost of four signal-free corridors is Rs 400 crore and the time taken for each corridor of the project depends on time taken for shifting the utility lines underground,” he informed.