Jam after jam on road to KIA

Thousands of vehicles have to pass through the four major gridlocks – Jakkur, Byatarayanapura, Kodigehalli and the stretch between Esteem Mall and the entrance of Hebbal flyover – where vehicles were piled for longer hours. The worst day was on Wednesday when traffic police blocked the right turn at Windsor Manor Hotel towards the CM’s residence creating a long queue of vehicles on Bellary Road.

Traffic police point out that the traffic on Bellary road moves on eight lanes after which the road becomes just two lanes to enter the Hebbal flyover. The Passenger Car Unit (PSU) on Bellary road during the peak hours is about 3,000 to 3,500 vehicles. Moreover the connecting loop on Hebbal flyover coming from Outer Ring Road merges the traffic coming from international airport creating further congestion. The poor condition of service road between Kodigehalli and Esteem Mall is not helping the traffic police to ensure smooth movement of traffic here.

“We are planning to introduce gating system of vehicles on Hebbal flyover to minimise congestion. Due to water logging the width of the road has become narrower which adds to gridlock. The government has planned for expansion of flyover thus by adding two additional lanes which could handle more volume of traffic minimising the congestion on Bellary Road,” said Mr M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

During the last three days of rains, especially during the evening hours, the traffic police had banned many right-turns in city to avoid congestion. However the move was not taken well by many commuters. The traffic police claim that if the vehicles are made to go round about, then the congestion can be minimised. For instance, the vehicles which were refused right turn on Windsor Manor circle where made to travel around the Golf Course on Race Course Road to reach Shivananda Circle.

“On Wednesday, there was a major gridlock near Shivananda circle due to flooding hence the right-turn was barred. Vehicles were made to travel an extra mile even in Frazer Town and around Lalbagh to ease the congestion,” Mr Saleem said.