The ongoing four-lane road work on National Highway 7 at Krishnarajapuram may have helped motorists but it has lengthened the journey of hundreds of residents of Krishnarajapuram village.
Residents used to take a right turn to their homes about 200 m after the Devasandra Junction near Vengayyanakere. With the four-lane highway coming up on this stretch, this right turn has been blocked as a median goes right across it, said Paropakari Srinivas, a resident who runs a charitable trust and a free hostel.
As the median is closed, residents have to travel 2 km along NH 7 till Bhattarahalli and take a U-turn to get to their houses, Mr. Srinivas said. The authorities have disregarded the woes of the residents, he added, saying they are bent upon implementing the rule regarding medians unmindful of the inconvenience. Sources in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) told The Hindu that the opening is located 150 to 200 metres from Devasandra Junction. Any opening or vehicular underpass could be provided every 2 km as per the NHAI policy. If this demand is conceded, there will be hundreds of similar ones, defeating the very purpose of widening the road, the sources said.
There is one more spot ahead of this junction which needs an opening. This one, about 500 m from Devasandra Junction, beyond Vengayyana Kere, could be considered if residents make a representation to the NHAI. This will be forwarded to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways which has to approve it, sources said.
