Whitefield will soon get some respite from traffic snarls with three bottlenecks set to be addressed. The decks have been cleared for two-long pending grade separators – at Kundalahalli Gate and Hope Farm Junction — and widening of the Graphite India Junction.
The two grade separators are part of the Old Airport Road and Old Madras Road signal-free corridors. They had been in limbo since 2009 due to problems over land acquisition.
On Wednesday, BBMP officials convinced 12 property owners at Kundalahalli Gate and 19 property owners at Hope Farm Junction to give up land for the project.
Sources in the BBMP said that the land-losers would get 163 per cent of the guidance value for property in the area as compensation.
Sudhanshu Mohanty, a resident of the area, said that it usually takes anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes to cross Kundalahalli and Hope Farm Junctions. “Grade separators at these junctions would be a big blessing for Whitefielders and reduce commute time significantly,” he said. Many Whitefielders have welcomed the development through their posts on social media.
But what they have to brace up for is a bigger traffic mess as work on the separators commences.
C. K. Baba, DCP (Traffic -East), said that the BBMP has to complete the work in a time-bound manner as diversions at these junctions throw traffic flow completely out of gear.
“Once we get possession of the land and start digging, we can complete the work in six months,” said Basavaraj Kabade, executive engineer, Traffic Engineering Cell, BBMP that is spearheading the projects.
The grade separators will be built using precast elements. The side walls and the larger skeleton were ready over six months ago. They are at the site of the contractor at Jigani.
“Once digging is completed, the precast skeleton will be fixed. Only the roads have to be built, reducing the time for completing the project,” said R. K. Mishra, member, Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), BBMP.
Unlocking junctions
Kundalahalli Gate Junction
— Traffic coming from
Marathahalli and Varthur
ITPL Road
Sai Baba Temple Road
— Part of Old Airport Road signal-free corridor
— Land required: 1,700 sq metres from 12 properties
Hope Farm Junction
— Traffic coming from
Varthur towards Hoskote
Tirupati highway
Channasandra Main Road
Whitefield Main Road
— Part of Old Madras Road signal-free corridor
— Land required: 2,500 sq metres from 19 properties
Graphite India Junction
— ‘T’ Junction
— Traffic coming from
Kundalahalli Gate
Hoodi
— Road to be widened to 6 lanes
— Land required
Hoodi junction: 2,500 sq metres
Big Bazaar Junction: 700 sq metres
— BBMP unable to identify land owners due to subdivision of properties
Grade separators at these junctions would be a big blessing for Whitefielders and reduce commute time significantly
Sudhanshu Mohanty
Resident
