BENGALURU: TO ease congestion on major roads, the city traffic police, in coordination with other agencies, will soon take up several measures recommended by the Bengaluru Vision Group’s Sub-Group on Traffic.
The Sub-Group meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhav, on Saturday decided to declare 12 roads, including Mekhri Circle to Windsor Manor junction and KR Puram Road from Benniganahalli to Mahadevapura flyover, as high-density roads. A new traffic circulation plan and several other measures will be implemented to ensure smooth flow of traffic on those roads. The meeting decided to allow BMTC buses to ply through Russell Market Road to ease traffic on Cunningham Road and synchronise signal lights on important corridors, conduct drives against drag racing and bike stunts, and revive Citizens Traffic Forum meetings.
It was also decided to introduce a new ‘Public-Eye’ mobile application, initiate booking of cases against road and footpath hawkers, against jaywalkers and introduce pre-paid auto stands at 13 important places.
They also discussed enhancing traffic fines, increase towing rates, provisioning of skywalk on Outer Ring Road, separate bus bays or pedestrian-holding bays. Signal-free corridors on a few roads are also part of the plans in the offing, according to a release.
The meeting was attended by Bengaluru city Police Commissioner N S Megharik, BMRCL M D Pradeep Singh Kharola, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon and others.
High density roads
Ramana Maharshi Road-Mekhri Circle to Windsor Manor junction, Hudson Circle area, Central Silk Board junction to Jayadeva Hospital flyover, Bannerghatta Road between Dairy Circle and Sagar Hospital, KR Puram-Benniganahalli to Mahadevapura flyover, Old Madras Road-Double Road to Big Bazaar, Hebbal Flyover, Whitefield area, Outer Ring Road-BEL to FTS Circle, Outer Ring Road-Mahadevapura to Iblur, Mysuru Road and Silk Board to Vellara Junction.
Commuter rail service
The Sub-Group has recommended commuter rail service on existing lines from City Railway station to Whitefield via Cantonment, Bengaluru East and Byappanahalli City station to Chikkabanavara via Malleswaram and Yeshwanthpur, Yeshwanthpur to Yelahanka via Hebbal, Yeshwanthpur to Chandapura via Banasawadi, City station to Bidadi via Nayandanahalli, University and Kengeri.
Second road towards KIA
An alternative road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) was one of the issues discussed at the meeting. According to a senior police officer, they discussed the need for a second road from Nagawara junction to KIA via Bagalur.