The proposal of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) to construct a flyover at the Central Silk Board junction has not gone down well with mobility experts and residents, who argue that an additional road along the metro line will only encourage more people to use their cars.
Early in April, the BMRCL had called for tenders for the construction of loops a nd ramps for a flyover at the infamous Silk Board junction for an approximate length of 2.84 km in Reach 5 the metro rail project Phase 2.
The cost of the contract is estimated to be ₹133.45 crore.
According to metro officials, the project will reduce congestion at the busy junction, which sees long traffic jams daily. The flyover will be signal free.
“When I first heard about the flyover project that metro will be constructing, I felt a great sense of relief. I have been travelling on the stretch for years now. But, I later realised a flyover can never be an answer to bottlenecks. The traffic jams will only be shifted to Bommanahalli junction on Hosur Road or the HSR Layout and ORR junction. There is also the question of additional cost involved,” said Srinidhi Sampath of Praja, organisation working on public issues.
‘Let metro stick to rail’
According to experts, the daily commute between Electronics City and Outer Ring Road section is the reason behind the traffic at Silk Board junction. “The R.V. Road to Bommasandra line and Silk Board to K.R. Puram line will give instant relief. The roads below will be less congested. There is absolutely no reason for another road bridge there. Moreover, BMRCL should only concern itself with constructing metro rail and not roads,” Mr. Sampath said.
Ashish Verma, associate faculty, CiStup, IISc., said, “The flyover will kill the prospects of metro and make it less attractive. Any development project should look at reducing emissions and help mobility. This project is not likely to do that. Also, a road project must be executed by the BDA or BBMP. Why should BMRCL involve itself in it?”
The BMRCL is already constructing a rail-cum-road flyover between Ragigudda and Silk Board junction at a cost of ₹330 crore. The rail-cum-road flyover, which will have two levels, will have a four-lane flyover at a height of eight metres above ground level, while an elevated metro corridor will be built at a height of 16 metres from the ground.
It will help road commuters
Stating that the metro line will not stop people from using the road, Mahindra Jain, BMRCL Managing Director, said, “Silk Board is a very busy junction. There will always be road commuters. The grade separator will allow them to travel towards BTM Layout, Sarjapur Road and Electronics City seamlessly without having to wait at signals. Also, buses will be using the flyovers.”
