Vaishali, a parent, is worried about the additional hours her children will take to get to school, and this is also the plight of many office-goers as the Kundalahalli Junction in Bengaluru could be shut down. The junction connects Marathahalli and other surrounding areas with Whitefield, and if the plans of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) go through, this could severely hamper the movement of traffic.
Kundalahalli Gate junction is an entry point for numerous schools and IT companies in Whitefield. With metro work being undertaken on Old Madras Road and a bridge be constructed bridge at Varthur Kodi, the construction of the underpass has put further stress on vehicular traffic.
It was a project that was envisioned five years ago. However, construction began only in the first week of March after delays due to land acquisition. This underpass is being constructed to make a signal-free corridor from Hopefarm Junction to Trinity Circle.
The civic body plans to close the busy intersection to facilitate the construction of the underpass and is coordinating with the Bengaluru Traffic Police. However, citizens are concerned as there are only a few alternative routes, and commuters aren't sure that these routes will be able to accommodate the traffic.
A member of Whitefield Rising, a civic movement, voiced his concerns about the lack of alternative arrangements and the condition of alternative roads. “The roads cannot accommodate the vehicles plying and would further worsen the traffic in these areas,” said the member, who did not wish to be named.
A BBMP official said that the closing of the junction would expedite the project. A traffic police constable stationed at the traffic signal, however, told TNM that he was not sure about the closing down of the junction. “We aren’t aware of such information; if it’s the case, alternate routes would have been announced,” said the traffic constable.
However, the public is sceptical whether the work would be completed before the monsoon sets in.
Residents also point out that they were not notified before construction began. “We later had to bring in BMTC, BBMP, the contractors and traffic police to come up with solutions when the work commenced. Now, we are calling them on again, hoping that necessary arrangements would be made and that consultation with the public would be taken up,” said the Whitefield Rising member.