As in the case of many signal-free corridors in the city where traffic gets priority over pedestrian safety, the bridge over the drain, near the Gali Anjaneya temple, is also causing them nightmares, at least for now.
With vehicles from Vijayanagar towards the city being allowed to take the bridge from Sunday, commuters alighting from BMTC buses at Bapujinagar stop, and pedestrians moving towards the Gali Anjaneya temple have been facing the herculean task of crossing the two down ramps of the bridge.
Kamalamma, a resident of adjacent Byatarayanapura, who was struggling to cross the stretch with her two children, said the authorities seemed indifferent to pedestrians.
“There is no way for pedestrians and we are compelled to walk in between retaining walls of the down ramp and moving traffic,” she told The Hindu .
Sundar Raju, a resident of Guddadahalli, said the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had sacrificed pedestrians’ interests ever since it took up widening of Mysore Road, which has been going on for over four years.
He said while the entire stretch of Mysore Road between Mysore Circle and Kimco Junction was pedestrian unfriendly, the stretch near the down ramps of the bridge in Bapujinagar has now become more dangerous.
‘Facility soon’
BBMP Engineer-in-Chief B.T. Ramesh told The Hindu that provision for pedestrians to cross the down ramps safely would be provided in the coming days.
“Traffic signals will be installed to allow movement of vehicles in and out of Bapujinagar and, during the process, pedestrian crossings would be provided,” Mr. Ramesh said.
Even Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem expressed the same opinion, and said that the widening work was not yet over.
The BBMP would be asked to provide preference to pedestrians over vehicles, he said.
