Commuters waiting to board BMTC and long-distance buses end up blocking road.
Crossing the junction near KR Puram hanging bridge has become an ordeal for motorists due to frequent traffic jams.
The motorists who come from Bangalore to go towards Mahadevapura or KR Puram usually wait for more than 20 minutes to cross the junction. Often they regret opting for Old Madras Road to reach their destination.
It is true that the construction of a skywalk has provided a lot of relief for pedestrians. The skywalk also helps devotees from Pai Layout and other areas visit temples situated on the left side of the road. However, there is no succor for commuters waiting to board long-distance as well as Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses at the junction.
A large group of commuters thronging at the entrance of the hanging bridge is a common sight.
“The authorities have not earmarked an alternative spot for us. So we have to wait here whether it is summer or monsoon. I hope the authorities will do something to help thousands of commuters who board buses to various destinations,’’ said Shanmuga Sundaram, a resident of Pai Layout.
Expressing displeasure over the lack of discipline among the private as well as BMTC bus drivers, Umesh BK, circle inspector (traffic) said: “The number of vehicles using the Old Madras Road has increased drastically.”
He attributed the lack of planning while constructing the road as one of the reasons for traffic chaos at the junction.
“I have been working here for the last four years. We have been trying our best to mitigate traffic-related woes. There is a 40 per cent increase in the number of vehicles on this road,’’ he said.
When asked about the measures taken to ease traffic problem at the junction, HK Venkataswamy, assistant commissioner of police (traffic), said he already sent a proposal to the BBMP, asking it to shift the bus shelter to another place to avoid traffic jams at the entrance of the hanging bridge. “I sent the proposal to the BBMP more than a year ago explaining the need to shift the bus stop near the Maramma Temple. I am told that a few BBMP engineers inspected the spot a few months ago. But the bus shelter is yet to be shifted,’’ Venkataswamy said.
Venugopal, executive engineer, KR Puram division, BBMP, said the decision to shift the bus shelter has to be taken by the advertisement department of the BBMP. Jayaram, additional commissioner, advertisement, BBMP, said: “I am not aware of the proposal sent by the traffic department as I took charge only two months ago. I will do the needful if there is a proposal from the traffic police to shift the bus shelter situated near KR Puram bridge,’’ Jayaram said.
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