Bangalore’s roads earned their names for what they were.
Double Road is the famous thoroughfare that leads straight to the great rock of Lal Bagh. Though its poor cousin came up in Indiranagar much later, this old cement road named Kenagal Hanumanthaiah Road, is the original Double Road.
The cement surface now, of course is covered with layers of asphalt and the name itself seems to make little sense. Of course, the name was meant to indicate that the road has a median running down its middle, dividing the thoroughfare into two along its length.
Since this is the logic behind the name, new comers to the city wonder why only this road is called the Double Road though almost every important thoroughfare of Bangalore now has a median, keeping the intimidating vehicles from running into each other head-on. The reason is that Bangalore had such sparse traffic that, till not so long ago, it had few roads that were divided lengthwise.
Avenues were more of long footpaths with a length of road running in between to allow for the occasional motor vehicle to pass by.
Of course, even old timers cannot visualise this scene anymore for it’s been quite some time since the footpaths got narrower and the asphalt got wider to allow more vehicles to go by. And by and by, as more vehicles began to trundle up and down the roads, the authorities had to keep the two opposite streams of traffic from running into each other, and had to install dividers.
And so, every road worth its asphalt and potholes, was a double road, barring a few that were either too narrow, or those that were made one-ways.
And then, there are those carriageways that have come to be called ‘Ring Roads’ or ‘Peripheral Roads’. The inner peripheral road and the outer peripheral road, that were meant to keep vehicles, especially trucks from invading the city. Now, everyone knows that these roads have outlived their utility, for, the city’s periphery has moved far beyond these roads and the areas around these peripheral roads look more like the city centre, traffic jams and all.
With the city now cutting a wide swath, South End, East End and West End seem meaningless and speak for Bangalore’s phenomenal growth.
People still drive on the Airport Road though their aerodrome has long since shifted elsewhere. And though there is no longer a Madras, motorists still use the Old Madras Road.
They probably wonder if Old Madras Road is the road on which one drives to Old Madras.
And then, there is the story of the unsuspecting tourist who landed in the Garden City, known for its great parks and tree-lined boulevards, and asked the guide to take him to the beautiful, green parts of the city. After taking in the charms of Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, he said he hadn’t had enough of the greenery and asked to be shown the “beautiful” Avenue Road, Wilson Garden, Marappa Garden and Chinnappa Garden! vijaysimha@ newindianexpress.com