Guest column: Footpaths, public transport a must, agencies should collaborate

Gottigere - Nagawara line, part of Reach -6 Namma Metro Phase 2, was approved way back in Feb 2014, at the cost of Rs 11014 Crore, with 21.2 km-long line and 18 stations. Metro stations along line Line -6, which include those at Jayadeva Hospital, Vellara junction, M.G. Road, Shivajingar, Cantonment and Nagavara will have to be constructed at locations with high-density traffic. These metro stations will, however, facilitate intermodal hubs in future. Traffic diversions are to be expected at these spots over the next five years. The closure of Vellara junction will hit commuters hardest, especially those who travel through Hosur Road, Residency Road, Richmond Road, M.G. Road, Brigade Road and St. Mark’s Road.

After an extraordinary delay of five years, work will finally begin on the underground station at M.G. Road, for which BMRCL and traffic police have closed one stretch of Kamaraj Road for the next four years. It will impact traffic for five kilometres around it, from major link roads like Cantonment, Shivajinagar, Commercial Street, Ulsoor, Indiranagar, Hosur Road and Brigade Road. Traffic diversion brings its own challenges, for commuters and authorities alike. Both BMRCL and the traffic police should have prepared alternate solutions for traffic diversion, including a trial run to understand the practical problems involved.

Pedestrian facilities are very important now, which the BBMP needs to provide, especially to connect M.G. Road with Commercial Street. Finally, the pain of traffic diversion can be avoided if BMRCL actually finishes its work on time!