Bengaluru: Another Metro-barricaded road opens

Bengaluru: The traffic police have now opened a stretch in front of Vidhan Saudha for traffic, further decongesting the roads around Cubbon Park. The stretch of road was closed for more than four years to facilitate underground Metro rail construction, and now that the tracks are ready below the road, the Metro authorities have given back the road for traffic movement.

Mr M.A. Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said that in the next 30 days the other stretch of the road in front of Vidhan Saudha will also be opened for traffic. This means the congestion around the Vidhan Saudha and K R Circle could be brought down to some extent.

“For the last two days we have been allowing the vehicles to run on the reopened stretch in front of Vidhan Saudha. Now the vehicles are moving in a straight line from Police Timmaiah Circle till K R Circle,” Mr Saleem said.

The traffic movement between Cubbon Road and K R Circle is now expected to gain speed after the stretch at Vidhan Saudha is opened. Due to Metro constructions the vehicle speed around Vidhan Saudha had slowed to as low as 7-8 kmph during the peak hours.

The traffic police are now contemplating closing the road inside Cubbon Park for the traffic, which was created four years ago after Metro construction was started. “The road that joins traffic from BSNL building to Ambedkar Veedhi passing from Bengaluru Press Club will be closed once both the lanes in front of Vidhan Saudha are opened for traffic. This will also bring down the current traffic congestion and parking problems inside Cubbon Park,” the officer added.

The traffic experts are now suggesting that the police should come up with adequate signage, especially no-parking boards on the reopened road. “The police must also put pressure on Metro authorities.”