The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Pedestrian safety ignored’

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Monday, Nov 10, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Pedestrian safety ignored’

Afshan Yasmeen

We will install signals, says BBMP Special Commissioner

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

WORK UNDER WAY: The service road of Malleswaram underpass in Bangalore is not ready for use yet.

Bangalore: When the Malleswaram grade separator was opened to traffic a few months ago, motorists, traders and residents of the area hoped all their traffic woes would end. But, they now say that the underpass has only created more problems.

Residents say that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials have ignored pedestrian safety while planning the project. While the pavement on the K.C. General Hospital side is too narrow in front of several shops, iron railings have been put up on the pavement with openings in front of select shops such as a bar and a textile outlet. There are no traffic signals at the K.C. General junction making it difficult for people to cross the road.

“The railings have been installed in an unscientific manner. They are of no use to pedestrians. If someone wants to cross the road to reach shops on the hospital side, they have to walk at least a kilometre around the underpass. Problems will not ease even if the pedestrian subway is constructed as people will have to cover the same distance to cross the road,” said Hitesh M. Roonwal, a medical store owner.

Narrow road

That apart, officials have changed the plan with regard to the service road on the Government Urdu School side. The initial plan was to construct a 5.5-metre wide service road to ensure a smooth passage for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses too. But this road, which is still not ready for use, is only 4.75 metres wide and narrow even for medium-sized cars.

All vehicles coming from Rajajinagar, except those going towards Majestic and Shivajinagar, have to go around the Malleswaram playground, pass through the 4th Main and proceed via 8th Cross. “If the service road is widened as it was planned earlier, the load on the 4th Main, where four schools are located, and the 8th Cross, which is a market area, can be reduced,” said Sumathi Rao, president of Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative. Though members of the initiative have submitted several pleas to the authorities urging them to widen the service road and allow traffic, it has not evoked any response.

“This round-about route will only ensure that vehicles consume more fuel. The officials have dropped the idea to widen the service road to avoid acquiring an old house on the corner of the road where just three shops are situated,” K.S.N. Murthy, another resident, claimed.

BBMP Special Commissioner (Projects) K.R. Sreenivas said traffic was not allowed straight because the turning radius at the K.C. General junction was not adequate for buses. The service road could not be widened because private land had to be acquired, he said.

“When we had planned the project, we had not decided to allow traffic on this service road. We will put up signals at the junction to ensure pedestrian safety. I have asked the engineers to discuss the issue with the traffic police and evolve a proper traffic management plan,” he added.

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Karnataka