DESIGN MODIFIED: Work on the Malleswaram grade separator has been stopped following protests from residents.

Bangalore: A redesigned grade separator will be built at Malleswaram and work on it is likely to begin from December 4, sources in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike said on Tuesday.

After residents of Malleswaram raised a hue and cry about the project and were supported by politicians, work on the grade separator, which began on July 30, had been indefinitely put off.

Sources said that minor changes had been incorporated in the design to address the objections raised by residents. The grade separator will now have a 20 second signal at Temple Road (near the Geethanjali Cinema). The Link Road, which leads towards Seshadripuram, would be widened to accommodate the traffic.

Sources said that the bus stop at Malleswaram Circle would be removed. Buses proceeding towards Navarang from Margosa Road will have to take a right turn at Malleswaram Club. Buses proceeding towards Majestic will have to enter the underpass directly and they will stop at a specified place on Margosa Road. Bus stops would be provided all along Margosa Road and buses coming from Navarang will stop at Mohammedan Road, instead of the present bus stop on Malleswaram Circle, sources said.

The ramp on the left side would begin from Hoysala Hotel, instead of the earlier plan to start it at the turning of Malleswaram 5th cross. The entire stretch of road, from Malleswaram 5th cross till the right turn at Link Road, will be widened and 63 trees will be felled in the process.

It may be recalled that the technical committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), called the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee, recently approved the Malleswaram grade separator. About Rs. 16.5 crore has been sanctioned for the project, of which the Centre will provide Rs. 5.78 crore and the State Government Rs. 2.47 crore. The BMP will have to raise the remaining amount of Rs. 8.25 crore for the project.

Sources said that consultations were on with the residents to convince them of the feasibility of the project. However, president of Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative Sumathi Rao said that they had not been contacted. "We would like to be part of the planning process though," she said.

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