Motorists, pedestrians see red over traffic signals
One of the major reasons for traffic congestion at traffic signals is often poor coordination
By : sangeeta bora
Update: 2015-07-06 07:03 GMT
Bengaluru: One of the major reasons for traffic congestion at traffic signals is often poor coordination and this invariably makes certain stretches impossible to pass through especially during peak hours. Sony Signal at Koramangala is one such signal wherein the signal remains red for over three minutes and it is opens to pedestrians for just 30 seconds. In fact, BBMP had planned to build a 2.4 km flyover from Ejipura junction to Kendriya Sadan but nothing substantial has taken place to improve the situation.
This signal is definitely a commuter’s nightmare. Sandeepan G, a commuter says, “I have been residing in Jakkasandra for many years and my office is housed in Koramangala 80 Feet Road, hence I have no option but to take this stretch. With every passing day, this signal has gone from bad to worse and the authorities seem helpless to solve the problem.”
The traffic density is more than 11,000 Passenger Cars per Unit (PCU). Throughout the day, the traffic density remains at higher than 5,000 PCU, thus making the junction congested. Nisarga M, another commuter says, “The roads remain clogged for kilometres at this stretch even on weekends and one is forced to wait for long intervals as they open the traffic once every three to five minutes. This signal makes the ride home really stressful after sitting in the office for eight hours.”
Voicing a similar opinion Namitha Mathew says, “Even the inner roads are clogged during the peak hours but at least they are much better than Sony Signal. I have started taking Koramangala BDA Complex route even though it means covering a distance of 2-3 kilometres extra to reach my office in Indiranagar.”
In 2011, BBMP came up with a plan to construct a signal-free corridor - Agara to Sirsi Circle, via Lalbagh road. However, after huge opposition from the residents of Koramangala, the Agara to Sirsi Circle project was scrapped. Then in 2014, citizens proposed that an elevated corridor be built on the 100 feet road, Koramangala that runs from Ejipura junction to Hosur Road which is yet to see the light of day. When DC contacted a senior official from BBMP he too was clueless about the project.