When the BBMP proposed to build an underpass at the Tagore Circle,a furore followed.The residents near the junction could not understand why the Palike was looking to build a traffic solution when there was no congestion problem to begin with,besides cutting down the legacy of Basavangudi.Yet,the Palike went ahead (since they did not want to lose the 20 crore that was earmarked for the project by the Central government under the JNNURM) and began the project in October 2009.
The original deadline was set for 10 months since the date of completion and like all other projects before it,the underpass also saw several delays.Finally,the road is all set to open to the public in a couple of weeks.The BBMP says that the finishing touches are being given to it and not much work is left.So we took a test drive on this much debated project and this is what we found.
It is expected to free traffic flow from the Central Business District to south Bangalore,moving towards K R Road and vice versa The project still has a long way before it can hit the completion button.The most amount of work is still to be completed on the ramps that will divert traffic towards Gandhi Bazaar and Krishna Rao Park.It is still a bone crushing ride.Basic amenities like street lights need to be put in place.If you decide to be adventurous in the dark with the ramps in their current condition,be sure to renew your insurance.The main box of the underpass still needs to be asphalted and the walls need attention too.But the most neglected aspect of the project still remains the pedestrians because the footpaths are yet to make an appearance.
THE SPECIFICATIONS
- Carriageway - four lane
- Side ramps - 4
- Footpaths - 4
- Total length - 578.39 m
- Lenght of underpass box - 80 m
- Width of underpass - 34 m
- Total cost - 24 crore Estimated Personal Car Units - 4452
The underpass is all set to open to the public in a couple of weeks
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