BANGALORE: Traffic chaos is a common scene at the Banashankari temple junction here. Two major arterial roads link the Kanakapura Road here with vehicles moving in a haphazard manner.

The first arterial road that links the Kanakapura Road is the Inner Ring Road (IRR) from the Hosur Road's side while the second one is the Kadirenahalli Main Road.

A large number of vehicles enter the Kanakapura Road from these arterial roads without a pause, and vehicles are allowed to take a U-turn on this congested road. Because of the two `T' intersections, vehicles have to pass through two traffic signals within a distance of 30 feet.

Adding to confusion

A Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation's bus stand and a depot (on the right side of Bangalore-Kanakapura Road) add to the chaos at the junction.

Instead of entering the bus stand, many buses stop at the signal to drop or pick up passengers and they do not proceed fast though they get green signal. On the other side of the road, BMTC and KSRTC buses proceeding towards Kanakapura drop and pick up passengers in front of the petrol outlet where there is hardly any place.

Vehicles proceeding towards Kanakapura, Konanakunte, ISRO Layout, Kumaraswamy Layout, Anjanapura, parts of J.P. Nagar, Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Padmanabhanagar, Outer Ring Road and surrounding areas pass through the Banashankari junction because of which it is always congested.

While the traffic police and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike have stressed the need for putting grade separators at Ramakrishna Ashram Circle on Bull Temple Road and at Malleswaram Circle where the traffic is not chaotic, they are now looking into the problem on this junction.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.N. Reddi admits that the problem is because of the two `T' intersections. Though traffic signals have been installed and measures taken for smooth movement of vehicles, they have not helped much.

The vehicle-parking zone on Kanakapura Road in front of the temple will be shifted inside the temple premises. The department will examine the feasibility of realigning either the Kadirenahalli Road or the Inner Ring Road to form a rational junction, Mr. Reddi says.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic - West) Ramasubba says a proposal to ban right turn on Kanakapura Road towards the Inner Ring Road and allow right turn at the JSS Junction at Jayanagar 7th Block is being examined.

BMTC buses will be made to enter the bus stand instead of stopping on the road, he says.

Realignment

On realignment of roads, Mr. Ramasubba says that it can be done either by constructing a flyover or grade separator, which is a long-term measure.

The BMP authorities say that some concrete actions will be initiated at the earliest.

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