Bengaluru: After months of protests and social media campaigns, work on road widening near Carmelaram railway crossing began on Friday.
This particular spot has been a traffic bottleneck with rampant snarls during peak hours. This road provides a vital link for residents of Varthur Hobli and Sarjapura Road with various technology parks.
The work got delayed due to bureaucratic and procedural delays as it involved the railways and the BBMP.
The South Western Railway had assigned the BBMP to widen the road, dismantle existing gate lodge and reconstruct of new gate lodge towards Byappanahalli. A clear sketch of road widening was also provided to the BBMP with an estimated cost. However, the work failed to take off because of BBMP’s internal issues.
Frustrated residents had held many protests and even approached the state and central government for redressal of their long standing grievance.
Finally, the railway department stepped in and released funds for the project. "Finally the work has begun. Hope the BBMP does not drag its feet again as it had done earlier at the planning stage and completes it at the earliest,” Sandeep S, A techie and regular commuter of a stretch.
Flyover project yet to take off
As a permanent solution there is a plan to build a flyover, estimated to cost around Rs 42 crore.A senior state government official told Deccan Chronicle, "The flyover blueprint has already been prepared and the state government is waiting for the central railway department to release a portion of the estimated amount. State government officials have already met the Union railway minister in this regard." Sandeep hoped the work on flyover will also begin soon. “Only then this stretch will be cleared of traffic snarls,” he added.
