Metro and Expressways expected to cut grade-level traffic at Silk Board Junction by 60%
Metro and Expressways expected to cut grade-level traffic at Silk Board Junction by 60%
Apart from its healthy climate, beautiful parks, gardens, tree-lined roads, cosmopolitan nature and science and IT hub, what else is Bangalore famous for? Its notorious traffic.
During his recent visit to the city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that steps would be taken to reduce traffic gridlock in the coming days. Soon after this various government departments got to work and inspected the seven problematic junctions and announced some short and long term plans for each junction.
Through this series, we attempt to navigate these gridlocks and see if the measures have brought any relief to commuters.
“To be successful in the IT industry in Bangalore, you have to master a code: the code to cross the silk board junction,” goes a popular meme. Visiting the junction during peak hours helps to understand why it is actually harder to crack.
If there is one shining example of Bengaluru’s traffic gridlock, it is the Central Silk Board (CSB) junction – one of the seven junctions identified to initiate decongestion measures. Apart from attracting the indignation and outrage of those who pass through here, Junction has inspired many memes and even a short film!
This junction connects several areas such as BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Koramangala and Outer Ring Road to the Central Business District (CBD). There is also a flyover above the junction that connects BTM Layout to Koramangala. The construction work of Silk Board-Hebbal Metro line at the junction is also in progress.
current problems
Construction work has been cited as the root cause of most problems here by commuters every day. During peak hours, it takes at least 30 minutes for these motorists to cross signals all around. While the road from Bellandur towards CSB is quite wide, the construction work after the signal requires motorists to tread carefully as the road becomes narrow. Due to this jam situation is created from time to time, due to which the speed of vehicles coming from the other side of the junction also slows down.
When it rains, the traffic problem gets worse as due to problems in the drainage system, water gets washed away on the roads and small potholes are formed every few hundred meters, which slows down the speed of motorists. It can also be seen that a fair part of the huge volume of vehicles here is made up of BMTC buses which, if they do not stop at the designated stops, cause delay in the movement of vehicles. Moreover, pedestrians on all sides of the junctions struggle to find safe places to cross roads and walk amidst moving vehicles, construction material, randomly parked autorickshaws and non-availability of cabs and footpaths.
what changed?
BMTC buses used to stop next to BMRCL barricades in front of the depot, after inspection the depot was opened and now all the buses start and stop from there. Bus drivers have also been instructed not to stop after exiting the depot before heading towards ORR. According to commuters, it has made a big difference, especially in the evening.
Bus commuters also said that getting on and off the buses has become easier now. Nevertheless, they all agree that there is still a lot of room for improvement as crossing the junction is still a nightmare.
people speak
“I don’t remember having crossed this signal from Bellandur towards CSB in less than 20 minutes in the morning and evening. The green signal is given only for 30 to 40 seconds and should be extended. Thankfully now buses stop inside bus stops. Otherwise, it used to be a nightmare if you got stuck behind those buses,” says Prem, manager of a hotel near the junction
“I am stuck in a traffic jam all around this junction. The service road leading to HSR Layout is narrow especially for daily vehicles passing through here. The traffic police here should definitely do more regulation instead of levying fines,” says cab driver Vasanthachari.