Bengaluru: What was once a free and unhindered traffic flow on the Richmond Road has become a chaotic, choc-o-block snarl at the beginning of the Richmond Circle flyover (connecting Double Road) for the last week. Apathetic traffic cops are to blame, for not keeping the public informed about the blocking of the road that branches out towards the Residency Road providing free right of way. Clueless pedestrians and motorists, who weren’t kept in the loop by authorities, are furious. Upset motorists are raising a hue and cry against the traffic cops and the BBMP for failing to inform them about the blocking of the road and about the alternative routes available.
Commuters feel that the traffic cops could have at least informed the public with signs or placards at least 200 meters ahead, said R. Shashank, a techie. The flyover intersects Richmond road, but since the lane on the right side of the flyover is blocked, the vehicles are diverted to the left instead. The traffic leading towards Residency road now has to wait at the Richmond circle signal before proceeding. Since commuters weren’t told that the road was being blocked, vehicles kept moving on to the right, leading to a pileup when they attempt to cross over to the left, creating an extremely chaotic situation and traffic log jams, he explained.
A taxi driver, T. Lokanath, said that he was almost in tears as his customer, who wanted to make it to a meeting at an office on Residency Road on Monday morning, was ranting at him for not reaching the venue on time. He also assured that signage will be installed within a day.
The BBMP has taken up TenderSure work on the stretch of road and blocked it completely by stocking construction materials. The work is scheduled to be completed in 20 days -- it has been taken up on May 2 and will be completed on May 22, said the site engineer. The road has been dug up for laying utilities like water, sanitation, rain water harvesting pit, power lines, gas line and OFC networks. Besides, footpath work has also been taken up and the work has been progressing at a satisfactory pace, he concluded.
