For the last five years, motorists and bus commuters have been struggling more for Metro construction in KR Puram.
For the last five years, motorists and bus commuters have been struggling more for Metro construction in KR Puram.
When it was opened two decades ago, K.R. The cable-stayed bridge at Puram turned out to be a landmark, attracting people for its engineering marvel. But now, when one hears the name of Tin Factory or KR Puram, the first pictures that come to mind are traffic jams.
Every day thousands of motorists from this junction go towards Whitefield, Silk Board and other places from Hebbal, Baiyappanahalli and other places. For the past five years, motorists and bus commuters have faced overcrowding due to metro construction in the area. Two metro lines – Baiyappanahalli to Whitefeed (under Phase II) and KR Puram to Bengaluru Airport (under Phase II B) – will pass through the tin factory area.
Recently, the heads of the municipal bodies inspected the tin factory junction to resolve the traffic issues. As an immediate measure, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the agency handling the Metro, was asked to asphalt a section of road near the bridge for parking of city buses.
But motorists and bus commuters say the traffic congestion can be reduced only when BMRCL completes the Metro work and starts running trains to Whitefield, completing the widening of the road from the under-construction Benniganahalli metro station to KR Puram railway station. and build bus-bays. on both sides of the road.
BMRCL has set a deadline of 2022 to start commercial operations on the Purple Line extended up to Whitefield. Although people are not convinced. “It has been years and the construction works are still going on. As per what is visible, BMRCL has a long way to go to complete the project,” said Madhav Prasad, a motorist.
Measures announced and made
BMRCL will widen the road on both sides of the KR Puram bridge and construct bus bays.
BMRCL has acquired 5,474 square meters of land and an additional 3,658 square meters of land for road widening, of which 3,512 square metres. are from Railways and 146 are from BDA.
BMRCL has widened a portion of the road near the skywalk.
The existing skywalk will have to be demolished to facilitate the construction of the metro. A new skywalk will be built nearby.
BMRCL has proposed construction of Skywalk near KR Puram Railway Station.
BMRCL started construction of the 15 km metro line in 2017. In the tin factory, the project was badly affected due to factors like traffic, change in the alignment of metro, delay in land acquisition, pandemic and others.
To decongest the traffic congestion in the area, the state government had directed BMRCL to widen the road and construct bus-bays on both sides of the KR Puram bridge.
“South Western Railway agreed to provide the land in principle. We are providing an alternate land owned by BDA. However, there are some problems in the acquisition of BDA land. The authority had acquired the land long back, but over the years 32 structures have been built illegally. Correspondence is going on with BDA regarding land acquisition. Once the compensation is fixed and the encroachments removed, the land will be handed over to the Railways,” said an official. After the acquisition of land, the work of widening up to the railway station will be done by BMRCL. There is a need to make proper walkways on both sides of the roads.
After the recent inspection, BMRCL had widened a portion of the road near the skywalk. A police officer said: “Providing temporary bus bays for city buses has helped ease the traffic going towards Whitefield and the Silk Board. However, people heading towards KR Puram have no option but to stand near the ramp of the bridge to catch the bus. The area required several bus-bays and designated bus stops. BBMP and other agencies should consider providing more space to park the buses.
(Mission Decongestion is a series on some of the worst traffic junctions in Bengaluru, which civic officials hope will reduce congestion)
“First, we faced traffic congestion after crossing the Benniganahalli flyover and proceeding towards KR Puram railway station. Traffic increased at many junctions after BMRCL started metro work on ORR. Once the metro is ready, the traffic will ease as many people will board the train. ,Prasanna ReddyTraffic from Hebbal to Whitefield
“Providing temporary bus bays for city buses has helped ease traffic on the way to Whitefield and the Silk Board. However, people heading towards KR Puram have no option but to stand near the ramp of the bridge to catch the bus. There needs to be multiple bus-bays and designated bus stops in the area. BBMP and other agencies should provide more parking spaces for buses.Police officer