New ways lead to new troubles

Bengaluru: Ever since Cubbon Road was closed three years ago from BRV Junction to Minsk Square both ways to make way for the tunnelling work of the Metro Rail, commuting from East and North Bengaluru to the city centre has became an ordeal.

With Minsk Square also connecting the northern and southern parts of the city, its closure has led to heavier traffic on M G Road, Hudson Circle, Mekhri Circle, Cantonment and surrounding areas in a domino effect.

“Around the same time that Cubbon Road was closed, two new roads were thrown open to the public one from Minsk Square to Dr Ambedkar Veedhi via Press Club and another from Queen’s Junction towards KR Circle through Bal Bhavan. But this has only led to detours and more delays on the new routes,” complains Mr Ravi Kumar, who works in an office near Queen’s Road.

Initially, the BMRCL had set a deadline of three years to complete the work on the Minsk Square station stretch, but it has long overshot it. Ask BMRCL Managing Director, Pradeep Singh Kharola and he blames it on the slow work on the Metro in Chikpet. “Most of the work is done. We will restore the road by December,” he, however, assures.