The Hindu : Front Page : Magic boxes to enter Raj Bhavan Road

The Hindu : Front Page : Magic boxes to enter Raj Bhavan Road: "The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to build four more “magic box” underpasses at GPO Circle and Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds junctions to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Sankey Road.

Construction of underpasses at these locations has become inevitable to prevent vehicles from piling up at traffic signals at the three junctions after moving smoothly on the Bellary Road stretch till the High Grounds junction.

After the completion of the five new underpasses on the Bellary Road stretch (from Anand Nagar junction on Bellary Road till Windsor Manor junction on Sankey Road), you can reach High Grounds junction from Hebbal flyover in just five minutes at a speed of 40 km to 50 km an hour compared to the 20 to 40 minutes taken at present."

BBMP officials expect a huge inflow of vehicles at the High Grounds junction after the completion of the proposed five underpasses on Bellary Road, which will further extend the waiting time at High Grounds, Basava Bhavan junction, Coffee Board junction through Infantry Road, especially during peak hours. Which is why they say that the new underpasses at GPO Circle and Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds junctions is the only solution to speed up traffic.

The BBMP has already made plans for this purpose and initiated discussions with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage to shift utility pipes at these junctions.
Two-way traffic

The officials pointed out that restoration of two-way traffic on Raj Bhavan Road (between Minsk Square and Basava Bhavan junction) is essential to begin construction of the underpasses at GPO circle and Raj Bhavan junction.

“We have apprised the city traffic police and requested them to prepare a traffic management plan to suit the design of the underpasses,” said a senior BBMP official. The drive from Hebbal flyover to central part of the city will be signal-free when all the 10 underpasses are built.

Proper pedestrian crossings will be provided at all these junctions (GPO circle, Raj Bhavan, Basava Bhavan and High Grounds) unlike the stretch between High Ground junction and BDA junction, and from Cauvery junction to Mekhri circle, the officials pointed out.

The BBMP is also proposing skywalks for pedestrian at a few places on Sankey Road-Bellary Road junction, depending on the alignment of the proposed elevated rail link to international airport.
Defence land

Meanwhile, the BBMP is unable to widen the road towards Sanjaynagar from the Bellary Road junction as the defence authorities have not yet responded to its request for some land belonging to Air Force near the Bellary Road junction.

The width of Bellary Road from Hebbal flyover will be 45 metres till Sanjaynagar junction, 35 metres till Mekhri circle and 24 metres from Mekhri circle to High Grounds. The road can be widened between Mekhri circle and BDA junction if a portion of the Palace Ground (under legal dispute) is made available, said BBMP Chief Engineer (Major Roads) Krishna Reddy.