M G Road traffic diversion woes

M G Road traffic diversion woes
Bangalore, Mar 15, DHNS:

The City traffic police move to completely ban vehicular movement on the stretch between Webbs Junction and Trinity Circle on M G Road starting Sunday for the next three months has opened up the scars and wounds of the already narrow and overburdened surrounding roads

As a result, a huge gridlock coupled with utter chaos and confusion reigned supreme on Monday, the first major day for the new traffic arrangements. Although the police had put up banners, buntings and signage on important junctions, confused motorists were seen asking directions from the traffic policemen throughout the day.

Between 8:30 am and 1 pm, a massive jam was witnessed on Subhash Chandra Bose Circle, Gangadhar Chetty Road (near Thiruvallur Statue), Ulsoor Main Road (Gurudwara Road), Begum Mahal Junction, Trinity Circle and Dickenson Road.

A visibly agitated commuter on the stretch complained that the new set-up had affected traffic in the vicinity adversely.

“Can a 40-feet road afford two-way traffic including the entry of heavy vehicles?” Mohammad Ali, a salesman from Frazer Town, asked.

The entry of buses on the affected roads has only worsened the matter. Earlier, buses from K R Puram plied via Trinity Circle and Mayo Hall to reach K R Market and Majestic. Now, they go via the two-way Gurudwara Road.

Echoing the sentiment, Balakumar of Lingarajapuram complained that going towards Trinity Circle from Ulsoor had become difficult and more time-consuming now.
“Earlier, one could go via Manipal Centre, but now we have to take a circuitous route via the already crammed Begum Mahal Junction,” he lamented.

For Manohar of Indiranagar, reaching Begum Mahal Junction from ESI Hospital turned out to be a frustrating experience. “Normally, it takes barely 10 minutes, but today it was a testing one hour,” he said. Vehicles were tailgating at Lido Theatre Junction, he added.
The new arrangement, however, brought relief to some others. According to Dinesh Gowda S H, an auto driver from Banashankari 3rd Stage, driving towards Ulsoor from Commercial Street and Infantry Road was easier now as one can directly go via Dickenson Road and Gurudwara Road.

Admitting that there was a logjam, the police, however, strongly defended the move. “We had no option but to introduce these diversions. Commuters are yet to be familiarised with the new set-up, the situation will ease out in a week,” B A Muthanna, DCP (Traffic East) told Deccan Herald. But motorists didn't pay attention to the banners and buntings put up everywhere, Muthanna added. The gravity of chaos at the worst-hit Begum Mahal Junction can be gauged from the fact that Kavitha M C, Ulsoor Traffic Inspector, and her personnel struggled to regulate traffic and deal with the perplexed motorists.

IPL III : Traffic dos and don’ts

The following changes in traffic will come into force from March 16 (Tuesday) to April 22 in the wake of IPL matches to be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Parking of vehicles will be banned on the following roads between 2 to 11:30 pm:
CTO Circle to Queen's Circle on both sides of Queen's Road.
Anil Kumble Circle to Queen's Circle on both sides of M G Road.
M G Road to Cubbon Road on Link Road.
Rajbhavan Road, T Chowdaiah Road and Race Course Road.
Both sides of the roads adjoining the stadium.
Both sides of Central Street.
Both sides of Cubbon Road from BRV Junction till Dickenson Road. Except BMTC buses, parking of all vehicles will be banned from Kamaraj Road to Dickenson Road Junction on either sides of Cubbon Road.
SBI Circle to Ashirwadam Circle on Madras Bank Road.
M G Road to Madras Bank Road and till Residency Road on Museum Road.
Queen's Circle to Hudson Circle on Kasturba Road.
Siddalingaiah Circle to RRMR Circle on Grand Road

Alternatively, vehicles can be parked from 2 to 11:30 pm on the following roads:
People can board, and get down from, BMTC buses on Cubbon Road and M G Road (Anil Kumble Circle to Cauvery Arts and Emporium Junction) during match days.
Private vehicles can be parked at Kantheerva Stadium. BMTC will ply mini buses from Kantheerva Stadium to Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Members of KSCA can park their vehicles at Cathedral Church on St Mark's Road.
Police officers and other personnel on duty should park their vehicles at BRV Grounds.
KSCA has arranged for guests and invitees to park their vehicles at the parking lot in U B City on Vittal Mallya Road.