Three roads connecting the outer ring road to the city centre are in disarray

Road Work is slow; traffic, life miserable

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Motorists, who have been stranded for four years due to the work to connect the 'Namma Metro' to the Kempegowda International Airport, are facing hours of chaos on the roads every day due to the chaos of the three roads connecting the outer ring road to the city centre.

As an alternative to the outer ring road, the city centre can be connected through the 80-foot road near Veerannapalya, Nagawara Main Road, and Hennur Main Road. However, these three roads have deteriorated and due to the ongoing works for years, vehicular traffic has become difficult. Therefore, vehicles are plying only through the outer ring road and Hebbal Junction, resulting in hours of traffic congestion.

‘If the potholes on the road are closed and vehicular traffic is allowed, the traffic congestion will improve,’ said the traffic police on the outer ring road and the connecting roads.

‘We ourselves, instead of waiting for the BBMP, request them many times when trucks full of concrete come and close the potholes,’ said the traffic police. These words describe the BBMP’s work of repairing potholes. People living near the connecting roads curse the BBMP officer. But BBMP engineers say, ‘There will be some trouble for a while when the white topping work is going on.’

Connecting Road 1: The road starting from the 3rd Main Road in Veerannapalya on the outer ring road is badly damaged by potholes. There have been excavations for installing pipes here and there, but they have not been closed. There is a railway level crossing near Kanakanagar, and gates are often put up when trains are running. During that time, vehicles stop for half a kilometer. When the gate is opened, there is traffic jam due to vehicles coming from both sides. This connecting road, which runs along the KHB Colony main road, is not even 50 meters good. There are potholes everywhere. This connecting road, which joins the Dinnur main road near Pushpanjali cinema, is narrow and cannot accommodate two vehicles at a time.

Connecting Road 2: This connecting road, which runs from Thanisandra-Nagwara junction on the Outer Ring Road to Nagawara main road via Arabic College, Kadugondanahalli towards Tannery Road, also has BMTC bus traffic. However, due to the white-topping work and our metro work, we have to find a road. There is also a problem with the railway level crossing. In addition to digging to install pipes on the road, work is underway to install footpaths and ducts on both sides. The work has not been completed in any part. Thus, the road is full of potholes and vehicles get stuck in the wet soil. By the time they are cleared, vehicles line up. This is a common situation here every day.

Our metro station work is going on on both sides of Tannery Road, including Venkateshpura and Arabic College, and the road has become narrow. Autos that store waste are parked here, emitting a foul smell. Before connecting to Fraser Town, the road has become narrow near Bilalnagar, and even BMTC buses cannot ply.

Connecting Road 3: Hennur Main Road, which connects the Outer Ring Road to the New Airport Road, through the service road, has been undergoing white topping work for the past year on the road that reaches the city from Lingarajpuram, 80 feet road, 3rd block of HRBR Layout. The white-topping on one side has been completed, but it has not been opened for traffic. On the other side, the road has been dug up, obstructing the movement of vehicles. The footpath is filled with construction waste, making it impossible for people to walk. Two-three feet deep ducts have opened, causing vehicles and pedestrians to fall.

Link Road 1: Veerannapalya 3rd Main Road to Dinnur Main Road – Kanaka Nagar – KHB Colony Main Road – Dinnur Main Road – JC Nagar Main Road – Fun World – Jayamahal Main Road

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Link Road 2: Thanisandra Road – From Nagawara Junction – Nagawara Main Road – Arabic College – Kadugondanahalli – Arabic College Main Road – Tannery Road – Fraser Town

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Link Road 3: Hennur Main Road – Service Road – HRBR 3rd Block 80 Feet Road – ISKCON Temple Goshala – Lingarajpuram

What should be done immediately?

From the outer ring road to the central part, Veerannapalya, Nagawara Main Road-Tannery Road and HRBR Layout, at least the potholes on the 80-foot roads should be closed to allow vehicle traffic. Instead of closing the dug potholes after completing the kilometer-long work, the work should be completed within 100 feet and allow traffic. Then the work should be started in the next 100 feet. Water Board, BESCOM, BBMP and other organizations should coordinate and complete the work at the same speed. Heads of departments should frequently visit the places where the work is being done, resolve the existing problems and take responsibility for completing the works quickly. Work should be done near the railway level crossing for free traffic.

Don't listen to us: MLA A.C. Srinivas

'White topping work is going on from Nagawara Main Road to Tannery Road. People keep complaining about the problems here every day. Metro, water board, BESCOM, cable companies and BBMP are working. Each one is doing a different type of work. Every day, engineers are being talked to and instructed to complete the work quickly. Contractors are also being told. But, no one is listening, they are making excuses. The inspection work is being done with the Deputy Chief Minister and the work is being expedited,' said Pulakeshinagar assembly constituency MLA A.C. Srinivas.

Dust, health problems

They have been working for a year saying that they will develop the road from the Outer Ring Road to the Tannery Doddi Road via Nagawara Main Road. They dig holes, install pipes. They do not seal it properly. They say that after installing pipes everywhere, they will put wet mix. The dust is excessive, and people have many types of health problems. They have to wear masks here all the time. There is no business in the shops, everything is covered with dust and people do not buy. Robert, a resident of Kadugondanahalli, lamented that the condition of the hotels is such that they are closing down.

‘It’s like taking loans for food’

‘They have been building a concrete road for nine months, whether we want to work or not. We are street vendors. If there is business here, we eat our fill at night. But they are not completing the road work. For the past few days, they have left one section open to traffic. They often close it. Vehicles stand for kilometers in the evening. All the fruits are covered in dust and we have no business. It’s like we have to take loans to eat,’ said Syed, a fruit vendor on the 80-foot road of HRBR 2nd block.