The Hindu : Front Page : Traffic jam: BBMP finds simple solution

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Friday, Nov 30, 2007
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Traffic jam: BBMP finds simple solution

Staff Reporter

It will soon be a signal-free ride from Minsk Square to Hebbal flyover

FOR FAST LANES: An experimental underpass built by BBMP with pre-cast material at Veterinary College grounds in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: Can we have a signal-free ride from Minsk Square to Hebbal flyover by the end of January 2008? If the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials are to be believed, construction of seven underpasses between these two points on Ramana Maharshi Road (Bellary Road) will begin from mid-December and completed by January end, which promises to end the chaotic traffic by ensuring signal-free passage for vehicles.

If several flyovers in Bangalore experienced delays leading to traffic chaos, the pre-cast modular underpasses project, being implemented in the country for the first time, will be a welcome relief for commuters. Sample this: while the underpass at Cauvery theatre junction is to be completed in just 48 hours, the one at the BDA junction will be over in a week and the work at Windsor Manor junction in a month.

On Thursday, the BBMP showcased an experimental underpass that has been built using pre-cast materials at Veterinary College grounds in a record eight days, to the members of high-level task force on infrastructure, who met for the first time. This project is being taken up to facilitate faster movement of traffic to Bangalore International Airport Ltd. at Devanahalli.

These pre-cast underpasses will be executed in junctions at Balabrooie, Windsor Manor (Kumara Krupa Road), BDA (Palace Road Cross), Cauvery cinema, R.T. Nagar junction, Sanjaynagar junction and CBI Quarters, all falling on Bellary Road between Minsk Square and Hebbal flyover. Similar pre-cast underpasses will be built at K.R. Circle and Maharani’s College junction.

BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya told presspersons that the cost of each underpass would be about Rs. 2 crore, and some of them would be completed in less than three days. “These pre-cast materials have a weight bearing capacity of up to 120 tonnes and are faster to implement besides bringing down the cost considerably,” he added.

The pre-cast technology used for underpasses has been in vogue in countries such as Denmark and Germany, and has a width of either 4.5 or 5.5. metres.

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