A flop called Jayadeva flyover – the solution?
Well, I just can’t conceal my displeasure with flyovers. So my eyes lit up when I saw Deccan Herald singing a similar tune.
Crawling traffic, transport hurdles and narrow roads, immediately bring to mind flyovers as an easy solution. But, whether flyovers are a blessing or a curse, becomes known only when they are put to use. Proving to be a curse is the Jayadeva Hospital flyover in the City.
But sorry DH, those who are in the business of city planning know that flyovers are no solutions. But these flyovers aren’t really planned by the planners; the legislators push these. Why? These are “visible” signs of development in the “target” area. No flyover takes 5 years to implement (though Airport Road one could beat that). And flyovers don’t require massive land acquisition efforts. So it all fits very well in the short-term political scheme of things.
Let me suggest some real solutions for the traffic problems of this area.
To reach Silk Board junction, there is just one option for people in JP Nagar, Banerghatta road and Kanakapura road area. And that road too is a “business route” lined with shops on both sides.
Such dual-purpose roads (business cum commute) can never take on too much traffic. Because of so many businesses around, it is not realistic to force parked vehicles and pedestrians off the road. That 4-lane ‘ring’ road is essentially only 1 and a half lanes each way.
Part of solution is to build an alternate route to get to Hosur road from Banerghatta road. Look at the map of the area. How about a link road from Banerghatta road to Hosur Road that runs along the south side of Madivala Tank?
Part of solution is public transport. A monorail type thing alongside Ring Road could bring people to Silk Board. And company buses could be provided a pick-up area to take employees to their offices.
Part of solution is to build a Brigade road / MG road type area right near Electronics City. If that place itself gets a “happening” feel to it, many folks, especially the non-native IT workers may want to live near their offices. Tough again, isn’t it? No one “planned” any large residential layout near Electronics city, and it may be late already.
Essentially, thinking short-term wont do. We need new roads and new initiatives; incrementally enhancing city’s assets wont cut it. Not that BDA or BMRDA aren’t thinking on these lines, satellite townships, peripheral roads and all that – just that the pace and quality of execution seem problematic.
Agree 101% with you. In fact the same thoughts race through my mind when ever i am struck on traffic jams on this road.If i had another road, i would definetly use that
I use the bylanes of mico layout to touch AXA corner then again come back to silk board just behind it.. my own way of driving without jams ( it costs 2.5 kms more but since i am asthmatic it takes care of all the pain i have to go thru otherwise in the carbondioxide etc)
mohan!
Using Google Maps to illustrate your point – very innovative. Cool!
& I agree on your observations. I myself take to bylanes whenever I have to go drive past clogged stretches of roads.
when you have a goverment embroiled in charges and controversy seldom do they get time to look into public complaints..
There were loads of promises made time & again but nothing has taken shape till date & probably nothing would..
Right Mohan. I too try these bylane shortcuts, though aware that people like you and me casue inconveniece to the residents. But some roads, like Airport Road at places, dont even have any bylane options.
Thanks RC. I love google earth, love it how easy it is to figure the city roads. Though the images they have right now are a bit old: from 2003-4.
Kris, It is sad that local governments dont have a bigger play. Why is it that people at the level of CM and all have to have a hand in planning each city road. If I could do just one thing today today to help our cities/country (PM for 1 day types), it will be to empower the local governments.
i completely agree. I stay on 17th main ( a curse!) and its a nightmare commuting …actually stepping out of the house to go anywhere. In the peak hours, it takes me about 30 minutes to move a distance of 2 kms in most directions – Jayadeva or silk board or koramangala. One of the solutions can be to expedite the BMIC road which would connect from Electronic city to Bannerghata road to Mysore Road to Tumkur Road. That would facilitate a lot of traffic in that direction and enable a lot of people to avoid BTM. But will Nelson’s son allow it??
Nelson’s son : Manninna Magana Maga ( Stolen as i do not know the inventor of this phrase).
Dear silkboard,
I have been watching the merciless cutting down of trees of silkboard office… do you think it was warrented to cut those trees for displaying thier ISO 2001 boards? Kindly showcase this in your blog.
thanks,
mohan!
Right Bhaskar, BMIC and the other (BDA) Peripheral road (Bangalore and its peripheral roads) could help take some vehicles away from BTM layout. But still a new road that starts from somewhere near Banerghatta Road/Outer Ring Road cross and joins Hosur Road or Peripheral Road will be nice.
I didn’t know the Nelson bit!
Mohan – never noticed the missing trees. Will be watchful next time I am at silk board.
There is aroad that connects Hosur road to Bannerghatta road that goes via Viajya enclave. (Actually it is not a road by any civilised standards, but I am calling it a road because I don’t have any alternate term. It is a stretch that is as narrow as 30 feet at some places. And I call it a road only because no houses are built and nothing is grown !)
It takes less than 30 minutes to reach Electronic city from Bannerghatta road in spite of the pre-historic road. If the road was motorable, it would take hardly 15 minutes. Instead of spending hundreds of crores for mega projects, if such small roads are developed, the traffic problem in Bangalore would be much easier to manage. It also reduces the time for providing good alternatives. I am sure there will be many such roads in other parts as well. But these are no cash cows for the politicians and it is doubtful if any government would take up these seriously.
I live on one of these by-lanes used for shortcuts. Let me tell u please be humane! Don’t use such short cuts. The roar of the trucks and tempos is maddening. Bikes zip away at 60-70 km/hr on a by-lane. It is neither safe for the motorist nor for people staying on these by-lanes.
Regarding flyovers. I completely agree with u.
They r used by politicans as cash cows.
Chandrashekar, yes. Exactly the point. Upgrading that “gully” to a proper road would have been cheaper and more effective than this flyover.
Outspoken – see and hear your pain. Get a bit more outspoken and ask your local residents’ association to try a protest to “save” these by-lanes. May be some right or left turns from main roads (that let people in on these by-lanes) should be blocked.
It takes less than 30 minutes to reach Electronic city from Bannerghatta road in spite of the pre-historic road. If the road was motorable, it would take hardly 15 minutes. Instead of spending hundreds of crores for mega projects, if such small roads are developed, the traffic problem in Bangalore would be much easier to manage. It also reduces the time for providing good alternatives. I am sure there will be many such roads in other parts as well. But these are no cash cows for the politicians and it is doubtful if any government would take up these seriously.