Day Two sees smoother drive on expressway

Day Two sees smoother drive on expressway

Raghava M.
But motorists still face minor hiccups, particularly lack of signage
— PHOTO: K. GOPINATHAN

DREAM DRIVE: Security guards ensured that heavy vehicles kept off the elevated expressway in Bangalore on Saturday.
BANGALORE: Compared to the bedlam following its Friday evening inauguration, traffic on the elevated expressway was smoother on Saturday.

The only thing motorists had to ensure was to follow lane discipline. However, it was business as usual for commuters on the road beneath the expressway: they crawled on painfully in fits and starts.

High above on the Rs. 750-crore expressway, traffic was thin. Being the weekend, most companies on the IT corridor leading to the Electronics City were closed and so it was smooth sailing for drivers.

Security guards
Following the chaos on Friday evening when a bus drove up the expressway without authorisation, hit a temporary arch before stalling and causing an hour-long gridlock, two security guards were posted at the start of the expressway near Bommanahalli. They ensured that heavy vehicles did not rumble up the expressway by directing them to the road below.

Though it was a smooth ride for motorists, they were a bit confused at the end over which of the two ramps — leading Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Electronics City — to take in the absence of signboards. This made it difficult to switch lanes, particularly for those on the left wanting to reach the ramp leading to Phase 1 located on the right side. They struggled to negotiate to the ramp amidst vehicles whizzing straight towards Hosur.

No signs
It was a similar problem for motorists bound for the city from the Electronics City, in the absence of signage to indicate which ramp leads to the elevated road. As a result, some motorists found themselves driving in the opposite direction. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Praveen Sood said the National Highways Authority of India has been apprised of the problem.

“We have asked them to put signboards at the diversions,” he said.

Usual nightmare
In complete contrast to the dream run, the traffic on the road beneath the expressway continued to be a nightmare, particularly at the Bommanahalli Road-Hosur Road junction. Drivers found it tough to move towards Bommanahalli and join Hosur Road. “We are having a hard time crossing Hosur Road,” said Shantakumari, a Bommanahalli resident.

Mr. Sood said the city police are working on improving the conditions at the seven junctions beneath the expressway.

“From today, we are implementing lane discipline near the Bommanahalli junction. Buses and trucks have been asked to use the main road and not the service road. BMTC drivers have been asked to stop only at bus bays,” he said.