Crossing roads a nightmare here

Crossing roads a nightmare here
Bangalore:,Nov 22, Deccan Herald News Service:

How safe are pedestrians in Bangalore? Not very, considering even crossing roads is a dangerous proposal in some parts of the City.


Take for instance two classic examples: Residency Road and St Mark’s Road, where the requirements of pedestrians are neglected. Several thousand people cross these roads every day. There are schools, colleges and important offices and public movement is intense at all times.

However a skywalk on Residency Road near Cotton’s Complex, instead of facilitating pedestrians, is an eye-sore and rarely used. The BBMP seems to have erred while choosing location for the skywalk. It is highly unscientific in terms of height too. Students with heavy bags and elderly persons can not climb the height.

BBMP Engineer Major Road Chikkarayappa said: “We admit that location of the skywalk is unscientific. Geo Penetration Radar Survey to address the pedestrian crossing problems is on. The report is expected shortly. We will come up with a solution once the report is submitted.”

Some staff of St Joseph's College point out few stretches where the pedestrians are put to hardship: a stretch between Bishop Cotton Girls’ School and St Joseph’s College Junction, the road in front of St Joseph’s College till its end connecting to St Marks Road and from St Marks Road to Anil Kumble Circle.

The pedestrians crossing roads near State Bank of India and Church Street will have to do so on their risk as vehicles ply continuously with utmost speed, they added. They have to walk only when the vehicles stop on the road either due to red light on Anil Kumble Circle or due to traffic jam.

Patients visiting Specialists’ Clinic opposite SBI also would have a tough time. “We have to walk long distance to cross the road. Even healthy persons find it difficult to cross the road. Then, imagine our plight,” says D’Souza a regular visitor to the clinic.
Interestingly, there are two zebra crossings on Residency Road, one near the Church and another at St Joseph's College junction. Neither a policeman is seen here monitoring vehicular movement nor vehicle users slow down and move further.

Two agencies involved in providing facilities came up with different versions. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic & Security) Praveen Sood said: “Traffic police have identified around 100 locations where pedestrian crossing facilities can be provided. We have submitted a proposal in this regard to BBMP. It’s up to the BBMP to provide facilities. It’s impossible to deploy policemen on each zebra crossing point. Moreover, vehicle users have a major role to play. They should slow down and move further carefully while crossing zebra crossing points.”