Bengaluru: The ‘Magic Box’ that came as a quick-fix solution have now met with an untimely end. However, on two consecutive weekdays — Monday and Tuesday, the Cauvery junction U-turn, which used to see a huge traffic pile-up, now has a smooth traffic flow.
The new traffic plan seems to have worked. For the second consecutive day, the Ballary Road, leading to Kempegowda International Airport, received a smooth flow of vehicular movement during peak hours. So the new plan, to ease vehicular congestion on Ballary Road, was a success.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Hitendra told Deccan Chronicle, “Due to the U-turn, there used to be static traffic which led to traffic jams between Mekhri Circle and the Windsor Manor bridge. As on Monday and Tuesday, the department received positive feedback about the diversions, so it will continue to remain the same until a six-lane elevated flyover is thrown open for road users.”
It can be recalled that the BTP, on an experimental basis, made the diversions on Ballary Road on Saturday and Sunday before it was implemented on Monday. Though there was slow moving traffic reported at Sankey tank and Bashyam Circle, later in the day, the traffic was smooth.
It can be recalled that former BBMP commissioner Subramanya created the magic box in the year 2008 to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. The BBMP spent Rs 1.5 crore to construct the magic box underpass which was designed to reduce traffic on Ballary Road.
Though a majority of road users were satisfied with the latest change, in the form of traffic diversions on Ballary Road, a few road users were unhappy with the move.
