Authorities are grappling with a new issue related to the six-lane Outer Ring Road (ORR) which is inching towards completion.
The width of the road underpasses cutting across the four railway lines that bisect the ORR in the city can only accomodate two-lane traffic. The six-lane road will narrow down to a two-lane road as it approaches the existing underpasses. The Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), which is implementing the ORR project, is keen to have at least a four-lane stretch below the bridges.
The proposed widening of road under the railway bridges will be taken up with technical inputs from Railway authorities. K.R. Mohan Kumar, chairman, MUDA, told The Hindu that the Railways had initially agreed for a four-lane underpass but were now dithering. “However, we will pursue the issue as it concerns public safety,” he added. “Traffic on the six-lane stretch is already heavy with almost 40,000 passenger car units per day and the vehicles traverse in speeds in excess of 80 kmph to 100 kmph. But the road will narrow down to a two-lane stretch as it approaches the bridge. As a result, traffic on the three-lane road will barrel into a narrow single lane vent which could pose a danger, especially during nights,” said Mohan Kumar.
There are four underpasses at the ORR which is bisected by the Mysuru-Bengaluru railway line, Mysuru-Hassan line, Mysuru-RBI printing press line and Mysuru-Nanjangud railway line. If the traffic slows down on the ORR due to single lane near each of these bridges, then the purpose of the high-speed ORR – to facilitate a quick exit from the city – will be lost. Authorities are keen to get the project completed by April this year.
Another issue plaguing authorities is the “missing link’ of 9.12 km connecting Bannur Road with Nanjangud Road. Work on this stretch has begun consequent to the MUDA transferring land and funds to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee at Bandipalya. The ground-breaking ceremony was performed on Saturday and work has commenced on the stretch.
The Rs. 293.51-crore project is being implemented with 80 per cent funding from the Union government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
The State government and the MUDA are contributing the balance amount.
