An experiment by the Bengaluru Traffic Police to decongest the road to the airport by changing the flow of traffic went wrong on Saturday, as the new rules led to severe traffic jam at Mekhri Circle, Windsor Circle, Basava Bhavan Junction and surrounding areas.
Several unsuspecting motorists were also caught by surprise early in the morning when the Traffic Police sealed off the controversial 'magic box' underpass at the Cauvery Theatre junction. The traffic police, with the aim of stopping people from using the underpass to proceed towards the BDA, were asking motorists to use the road to the left of the underpass and proceed towards Mekhri Circle before taking a U-turn to return to BDA.
This move, added at least two kilometres to several people's commute, infuriating them. “There was nothing wrong with the current arrangement. The road to Mekhri Circle is perpetually full of traffic… why should someone going the other way have to go till Mekhri Circle to come back again?” asked an irate commuter.
Further, the traffic police also made the road connecting Raj Bhavan to the Basava Bhavan Junction a two-way, blocking the right turn towards Raj Bhavan. Commuters now had to travel all the way to Windsor Circle and take a U-turn before heading back towards Raj Bhavan. Further, the traffic police also closed the link to Cunningham Road from High Grounds through the Balabrooie Guest House, making it compulsory to head to Windsor Circle and take a U-turn and a left at Le Meridian to proceed towards Cunningham Road.
According to a statement by the Traffic Police, the measures would be in place between 8 am to 8 pm on Saturday.
The traffic arrangement was to de-congest the volume of traffic and the study the impact. “This has been done on an experimental basis. Based on the results, we will decide on extending this and make necessary changes,” said R. Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
However, after witnessing the high amounts of confusion on the road, the traffic police withdrew the diversions at Basava Bhavan Junction and stopped the two way flow of traffic on the road between High Grounds and Raj Bhavan. "The results were not as expected at High Grounds and this will lead to more traffic jams in the evening. So, we have withdrawn those diversions. However, the setup at Cauvery junction is still the same," confirmed Mr. Hithendra.
A call will be taken on continuing the new system after studying traffic flow in the evening, he added.
