Citizens get new traffic signal approved

The Puttenahalli Main Road at the Brigade Millennium arch is chaotic during the peak morning and evening hours. Now a traffic signal at Brigade Millennium arch on Puttenahalli Main Road has been approved!

The chaotic junction at night. Pic: O P Ramaswamy.

PNLIT representatives had discussed the feasibility of getting a signal, with our Puttenahalli Corporator L Ramesh, but we were not sure if the junction would satisfy the requirements of the Traffic Police, that justify the investment. What better way to find out than by putting the Traffic Police on the job!

Our message to the Traffic Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, in mid-June read:

"The Puttenahalli Main Road in JP Nagar 7th Phase, at the junction of Brigade Millennium arch is in urgent need of some traffic control. The intersection of the two roads leads to Kanakapura Road on one end and Bannerghatta Road on the other and vehicular traffic is virtually uncontrollable. Sometimes, the junction is manned by a policeman. For pedestrians, the road is practically not crossable during the peak hours. Request the Traffic Police to please have a traffic signal put at this junction so that traffic gets under control.”

Within two weeks of sending the request, Inspector Nagaraj (of Jayanagar) and Inspector Dharnesh (who was in-charge of the junction at the time – he has now moved to a different police station), visited the junction to assess the need for a signal and invited me to join them. They observed the traffic for a while and spoke to nearby shopkeepers and pedestrians to get their views. They concluded that, presently, the need for a signal is during the peak morning and evening hours.

However, given that Arekere Mico Layout is now directly connected to Puttenahalli Main Road, through L&T South City Road and Nataraja Layout Road, and as Elita Promenade will get fully occupied in the near future, traffic is likely to get heavier.

A signal is worth the investment, they concluded, but informed me that further inspections would be made by the final deciding authorities. They also observed the need for other steps, such as relocation of the bus stops, to ease congestion.

Subsequently, in early July, Inspector M D Hari who took over from Inspector Dharnesh, took the matter forward by carrying out his own inspection. He observed that a four road converging junction, three with medians and one without, with the kind of volume it handles during peak hours, definitely needed a signal. He promptly took up the issue with his higher officers. Barely a month from making the request, Inspector Hari informed us that the signal has been approved and that work will commence soon.

Kudos to the Traffic Police for their swift action.

Comments:

  1. Harikrishna B says:

    Good!It was high time.Now vehicles can ply with ease.

    What about pedestrians? Do they continue walking on the road meant for vehicular movement or do they get to walk on footpaths which have been encroached by goons? Don’t we deserve safe walkways? What do Mr Hari and Mr Dharnesh have to say about the safety of pedestrians?

    If only we could get rid of all the illegal footpath encroachments…

    I know its off topic or is it? Ever since the road was asphalted, vehicles are getting dangerously close to pedestrians & the footpath is occupied by these goons and people are forced to walk on the roads,which leads to traffic jams.

    And I wish people realize how unhygienic these road side food stuff is. Wouldn’t it be of great service if some sorta meeting is called for by you to explain brigade folks warning them of health consequences, cuz I’ve noticed most of the people who flock over to eat at that punjabi food stall(opp mayflower) are folks from brigade.

    I’ve registered a complain with the BBMP commissioner office regarding the footpath issue & they are yet to act….

    Perhaps if we collectively put more pressure they would.

    Can you help me out?

    thanks

  2. Arathi Manay Yajaman says:

    I am told that the signal is operational today… solar powered.

    Harikrishna – Roadside vending needs to be handled with due consideration to the livelihood of the vendors. Do follow up your complaint with the BBMP. Or get in touch with Corporator Ramesh. Other important person in this is the Health Inspector Santhosh. Sorry but I have recently moved fm Blr so unable to assist.

  3. Narendra Kumar.S.S says:

    I heard that, the tank bund road connecting “Arkere Mico Layout” and Puttenahalli is being widened from 40 feet to 80 feet.
    Is this true?

    And also, I heard that, a new road for buses is being made – so buses will not come to Brigade Milleneum. Instead, they will go inside the Bank of Baroda Layout and hit the tank bund road in the middle.
    Is this true?

  4. Arathi Manay Yajaman says:

    Narendra Kumar,
    1. As per BBMP Notification (No EE/MR[SE]/PR/04/09-10 dated 3-8-09, Road widening Bommanahalli Zone), there was a plan to widen the stretch from Kanakapura Rd to Bannerghatta Rd but we do not know the status of this. A copy of the notification can be downloaded at this link…
    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BwFiFsEFJY-7MDM0MWFlOGEtZGRkYy00OTI1LTkxN2ItYTc0ZjhiZTExNDky&hl=en_US
    2. There is a new road being made to connect 24th Main to the tank bund through BOB Colony. The plan for buses will need to reviewed after this is done.
    To clarify any issues, you can contact our Puttenahalli Corporator Ramesh who is privy to recent developments and the most reliable source.

  5. Narendra Kumar.S.S says:

    Hello Arathi,

    Thanks for the updates.

    If you have the email id of the corporator Ramesh, please share it with me.

    Also, I would like to know, if the Bank of Baroda layout gets flooded during rainy season or whenever the “Puttenahalli Kere” gets filled up?

    Thanks,
    Narendra

  6. Arathi Manay Yajaman says:

    Puttenahalli Councillor Contact details on these links
    http://www.bbmp.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=574&Itemid=205
    http://www.lramesh.in/contact.html

    Since its restoration a year ago, Puttenahalli Kere has never flooded. In fact, we have been waiting for it to fill! Not sure about BOB layout.

  7. Narendra Kumar.S.S says:

    Thank you very much for the contact details.
    I will check with the Corporator regarding my queries.

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