Koramangal corridor: Elevated pace could help

Bengaluru: Motorists have to think twice before getting on to the Intermediate Ring Road (IRR) as plodding through bumper-to-bumper traffic can be a harrowing experience, especially during morning and evening peak hours. Travelling less than 2 km on the stretch takes nearly 30 minutes instead of three, which explains the ordeal the motorists go through daily.

Traffic jams are mainly due to the ongoing Elevated Corridor project, which started in November last year. The work, aiming to ease traffic congestion at the Sony Signal Junction in Koramangala, is expected to be completed by November 2019.But eight months later, except soil testing at multiple places, hardly any progress is seen in the project, which has been awarded to Simplex Infrastructure. Since soil testing and digging is going on at Ejipura, Sony Signal and Kendriya Sadan junctions, commuting on this stretch is a daily ordeal, complained Anil Kumar, a resident of the area.

The corridor, which will stretch 2.4 km, is expected to clear traffic jams at these major junctions. The worst affected are those travelling to Embassy Golf Links and between Indirangar and Koramangala, he said.

Lack of safety measures, poorly marked barricades at construction spots and poor traffic management during peak hours have made things horrid for motorists. Though the project is scheduled to be completed by November 2019, there is no sign of it meting the deadline, he said.

“To add to the misery, a U-turn given between the Ejipura junction and Embassy Golf Links (EGL) has only added to the congestion. The BBMP should plan a flyover from EGL to the other side of IRR for smooth movement of vehicles bikes that exit from EGL, suggested Manoj Kumar, a resident of Ashwini Layout.

Chief Engineer (Major Roads) K.T. Nagaraj said that projects seem delayed in the initial stages as it involves soil testing and piling work. “Piling 
(digging or excavating) has to be done until the machine hits the hard rock which may go up to 15 to 20 feet down for the stability of the structure. Only after that, piling cap is done and the structure starts rising. The work is progressing at a satisfactory pace. Since pre-cast elements will be erected, the project is unlikely to be delayed,” he said.

Once completed, the Elevated Corridor will ensure smooth movement over the structure. But the challenge before the traffic police is to manage traffic under the corridor, he said.

The corridor will help commuters travelling from Old Madras Road and Old Airport Road towards BTM Layout and Central Silk Board, said Mr Sheshadri, a member of the area Resident Welfare Association.The RWA is thinking of working with the police to ease traffic movement during the construction period and pressurise the BBMP to complete the project on time, he said.

BBMP sources said that the traffic police have been told to make arrangements for the smooth movement of traffic. The BBMP will try to complete the project within the deadline.