The Karnataka cabinet has approved the proposal to widen this stretch connecting Mekhri Circle and Cantonment Railway Station
Even as a debate rages on whether widening of arterial roads is the best way to ease commuting woes in the city, the state cabinet, at a meeting on Monday, approved the widening of Jayamahal Road, which connects Mekhri Circle and the Cantonment Railway Station.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had submitted a proposal for the widening of Jayamahal Road at a cost of Rs22 crore. “The cabinet, chaired by chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, decided to give administrative approval to the widening of Jayamahal Road,” higher education minister VS Acharya announced.
Jayamahal Road is home to the powerful, the influential and also the city’s small-time trader. MP Renukacharya and Gulihatti D Shekhar, both of whom were recently in the headlines as rebellion rocked the state government and justices NK Patil, K Sreedhar Rao are among the famous residents of this part of the city. There are government bungalows lining the Jayamahal Road.
Many of the powerful residents that DNA contacted welcomed the move to broaden the road. However, there were also those who were worried by the cabinet decision. Rahmat Khan, a businessman, said that his property had been marked for demolition, ahead of road widening.
However, the BBMP has now decided to widen the road on the side of the lands belonging to the Mysore Wadeyars, after permission was granted for using up palace lands. The proposed widening is set to affect the edge of the 16-acre Palace Grounds.
Vijay K, a real estate agent who also owns a gym on Jayamahal Road said that at peak hours, the road is jam-packed. With the road also being an important approach route to the new airport, traffic has increased, several fold. “Road widening will offer us some relief,” said Vijay.
BBMP chief engineer (major roads) TN Chikrayappa said that the state government, through the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR), has moved an interlocutory application (IA) in the Supreme Court as the Palace Grounds property has been under dispute for several years. “Soon after the Supreme Court clears the way, we could start work. The plan is to widen the Jayamahal Road stretch from Mehkri Circle to Jaya Chamarajendranagar TV tower to 45 metres, and from that point to Cantonment area to 30 metres,” he said.
H Naronha, a senior citizen, is disconcerted. “A railway under-bridge along the stretch was recently completed near Cantonment Railway Station; another one exists near St John’s Church Road. The road cannot be widened at these points, so a bottleneck will continue. Why don’t they leave the city alone and develop the outskirts?” asks Naronha.
“Pedestrians should be offered more footpaths and tree cover. And no matter how wide the roads, the traffic will keep pace too; we’ll have a rush anyway,” says Reshma N, a homemaker.
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