BBMP to go ahead with Tagore Circle underpass work

BBMP to go ahead with Tagore Circle underpass work
Bangalore,Nov 2,Deccan Herald News Service:

Despite strong opposition from the ruling party MLAs and the local residents, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to go ahead with its proposed Tagore Circle underpass project.

Talking to Deccan Herald, the Palike Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said the project would not be stopped. “It is an approved work and we cannot stop it midway. The work is not halted but we are taking time to shift the utility service lines,” said Meena.

He said the underpass work was started after doing a thorough study by the experienced technocrats, which suggested a need for a grade separator at Tagore Circle.

“Once the planning is done, and approval has been given, there is little chance left for halting the work.”
The Commissioner said the Underpass is not contructed for the convenience of the local residents of Basavanagudi but for those who cover a long distance. He added that infrastructure projects are taken up keeping the future in mind.

“It is better to solve the problem now before the traffic density at Tagore circle increases to the extent that we may not be able to carry out construction activities in future,” said Meena.

What people say...

The underpass is a complete waste of the taxpayers’ money. The congestion at the intersection is mainly due to the totally illogical pattern of traffic flow enforced by the traffic police under the National College flyover. Vehicles approaching the National College intersection from the City Market end on K R Road intending to go to Gandhi Bazaar are not allowed to take a right turn under the flyover. This leaves them with no choice but to take the right turn at the Tagore Circle, hence the congestion. Allowing right turn under the flyover will completely ease the congestion at the Tagore Circle.
The Tagore Circle can also be converted into a round-about to streamline the traffic flow.
The authorities should first try alternative solutions to ease traffic congestion before embarking on projects that destroy the tree-lined avenues of Bangalore.

S V Vijayakumar
Visveswarapuram

The traffic police have failed to assess the volume of traffic and has failed to make adequate arrangments to handle traffic due to diversion, because of the Tagore Circle Underpass.
K R Road and MN Krishna Rao road are very intensely used as feeder roads and are choked due to both way traffic. Along with Kanakapura road starting from South End, MNK Road and BP Wadia Road should be made one way in opposite directions with No Parking facilities.
Further, the road hawkers must be moved out along with the autorickshaw stands, to enable pedestrians to use the footpath. Zebra crossings and road humps are required to avoid speeding two-wheelers and cars.
Road cutting work should be stopped until the Metro Work is completed in our area. the National High School Ground and MNK Park should not be let out for political rallies until the metro work is completed.

Vishwanath
Hon Secretary, Basavanagudi Residents Welfare Association.