Bengaluru: CBD commute to be less taxing

BENGALURU: For those who regularly commute to the Central Business District and have to put up with traffic gridlocks, here is some good news. Three roads in the area, which were closed for Metro construction, will now be reopened. Traffic will be opened in front of Vidhana Soudha, Gopal Gowda Circle and Cubbon Road. This step is expected to take off pressure on many arterial roads in the city.

According to the police the reopening of the stretch on Cubbon Road, between BRV Junction and BSNL building, will reduce pressure on M.G. Road. The stretch was closed in March 2011 and the Metro had promised to open it in three years.

“Due to closure of Cubbon Road (partially) the traffic moving towards the Raj Bhavan Road and other parts of north Bengaluru was diverted to M G Road from Anil Kumble Circle, thereby creating increasing traffic volumes on M.G. Road, St Mark’s Road, Brigade Road and Residency Road. Now that the road will be opened by month end or early July, at least 60 per cent of the traffic going towards the North and central of Bengaluru areas would move through Cubbon Road,” explained M.A. Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

The traffic police have  made plans to reopen traffic through Cubbon Road. Signages are being checked and markings will be made on the road. Once the BMRCL removes the barricades, the marking work will be taken up. The police have clarified that no parking will be allowed on Cubbon Road. Mr Saleem added that due to Metro construction around Vidhana Soudha the traffic inside Cubbon Park, Nrupatunga Road and at K R Circle had increased manifold and this could be cleared once the stretches in front of Vidhana Soudha and Gopal Gowda Circles are opened.

“We are hoping that the BMRCL sticks to the deadlines on reopening the roads for traffic. The Tender Sure project is still to be completed, but opening of these three points will surely help commuters, as they will have different options to commute through. We are also asking the Metro authorities to remove barricades from the stretches where pillar construction or Metro work is completed,” Saleem added.

Traffic on MG Road to ease

• Cubbon Road – Between BRV Junction and BSNL Circle – will be reopened by June end
• Vidhana Soudha and Gopal Gowda Circle on   B R Ambedkar Veedhi – by July end
• Traffic police are expecting a reduction in traffic movement on M G Road, once the Cubbon Road is fully opened for traffic
• Traffic inside Cubbon Park is expected to be reduced by July as the road in front of Vidhana Soudha will be opened for traffic