Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Bangalore NEWS - MARATHALLI BYPASS ROAD

Marathalli's latest offer: Bypass traffic snarls

Driving in shopping hub Marathalli won't be a pain anymore. The new Marathalli bypass road promises to ease traffic at the Bridge Junction

B K LAKSHMIKANTHA






MARATHALLI BYPASS ROAD
Length 1.5 km
Width 40 feet
Cost Rs 2 crore
Work began on May 25 and completed in 3 months





For those who are sick and tired of cursing the traffic-clogged Marathalli Bridge Junction, here is some good news: The Marathalli bypass road leading to KR Puram railway station and Information Technology Park-Bangalore (ITBP) is ready!

The bypass road, which connects HAL Airport Road with the Outer Ring Road by cutting through Doddanakundi village, will be formally thrown open for traffic by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) next week. Vehicles have already started plying on this road, which is awaiting some minor works to be completed.
With this, traffic flow towards the Marathalli Bridge is likely to come down drastically providing relief to both motorists passing that way and the shoppers who throng one of the largest discount markets of the country. This also means an end to bumpy rides for the residents of Doddanakundi coming towards the city.
The government had released a Rs 6 crore package for the area's development. The Bruhath Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had proposed an approach road and handed over the project to the BDA for development, said BDA Executive Engineer Rajashekar.

Work on the 1.5 km stretch was flagged off by higher education minister and area MLA Aravind Limbavali on May 25 this year. The road was in a pathetic shape with no asphalt and streetlights. Every time a vehicle passed on it, a ball of dust would rise behind the vehicle. Apart from air-pollution, this road guaranteed back-breaking rides for motorists. But the minister swung into action after Doddanakundi residents led by corporator Sridhar Reddy persuaded him to give
a facelift to the literally non-existent road. Even the traffic police supported the idea as the bypass road would reduce traffic at Marathalli Bridge Junction.
It took three months for the BDA to lay the 40 feet wide road at a cost of over Rs 2 crore, including the drainage and three culverts. BBMP executive engineer K Basavarajegowda said the
road saves HAL quarters from dust clouds and prevents flooding during rainy season. "Initially the road will be used by all vehicles but we have requested traffic police to prohibit heavy vehicles on this road," he added.
Once the bypass road is opened nearly 35 per cent of vehicles will take it, thereby easing traffic on the main road.

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