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Underpass at Tagore Circle - End of Gandhi Bazaar?

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Written By Arun - 4 November, 2008

Traffic Bangalore Analysis Basavanagudi Transportation Infrastructure Flyovers and underpasses Tagore Circle

The pleasure of shopping on Gandhi Bazaar Main Road in Basavanagudi may be lost forever, if the underpass at Tagore Circle at the beginning of the road materializes. Yes, this proposal now seems to have moved and Deccan Herald has published traffic diversions to accommodate this project. I have put in all the pieces in a hurry. Sorry for any editing lapses. The ill-conceived and irrelevant underpass at a junction with so less traffic density not only would consume the lush Tagore Park, but would render this pride of South Bangalore tree less.

BMP’s then Mayor and the past MLA of Basavanagudi who created the National College Flyover despite opposition, was in favour of this infrastructural blunder, less than half a kilometer from the flyover. The present MLA is hardly to be heard after elections and atleast now should come out and oppose this underpass programme of BBMP. When the National college flyover was built several hundreds of trees were cut for the flyover, while the Mayor kept promising that no tree would be cut. The flyover remains under utilized till date as people avoid the flyover due to too many intersections. BMP has built a flyover at the National College Circle, just few hundred meters away from the proposed underpass that remains underutilized for more than three years. The Bangalore Traffic Police should oppose this, as no scientific planning seems to have gone behind this. About a kilometer away is the proposed Core Ring Road (near Market), and the Mono Rail that connects Kathriguppe and National College probably passes through this junction. And Namma Metro would run just a block away.

BMP along with the Traffic Police should divert vehicles to the flyover by closing all the medians on V V Road, and streamline the traffic at RK Ashram circle. This would ease the pressure on BP Wadia Road and other Basavanagudi Roads ensuring smooth flow from Lalbagh West Gate to RK Ashram.

An underpass at Tagore Circle would mean more vehicles on the shopping street and no place for shoppers to walk and vendors to sell. And without removing these trees, the underpass would be too narrow. The pavements too on this road have been narrowed down considerably making the trees stand a good 15 feet away from the pavement. The elected representatives should protect the heritage of Basavanagudi and not resort to its systematic elimination. Gandhi Bazaar would be gone forever. And this is too high a price the electorate of Basavanagudi would be paying to facilitate movement of vehicles from other localities, since Basavanagudi would only be used as a transit point. DO WE HAVE ANY HOPE?

COMMENTS

Tagore Circle Underpass

Photoyogi - 4 November, 2008 - 19:09

Dear Arun, Thanks for throwing light on this, Having done a good part of my Schooling at East West School Basavanagudi, I am deeply concerned about the trees that might be cut down in the area. Is it possible for you to draw a map where exactly this underpass is expected? I remember a *huge* gulmohar tree at the corner of the Canara Bank (begining of GandhiBazaar) I hope thats not going to be cut down :-( -- Praveen Sundaram AkA PhotoYogi

one way on gandhibazaar main road?

srinidhi - 4 November, 2008 - 06:00

maybe this is long due..as Arun says we have to vacate the vegetable vendors and fruit vendors from the footpath and move them to the now defunct market.. Corporator Chandrashekhar had proposed this but the hawkers did not allow the market to be developed! Lobbies lobbies..have spoilt everything..the national college flyover was a colossal waste of money and so is this tagore circle plan..

National College Circle Flyover

Vasanth - 4 November, 2008 - 07:23

As soon as one gets down the National college circle flyover, there are signals both on the Lalbagh west gate side and Ashrama side. If this would have been built during those days till westgate on the East Side and till Ashrama on the west side, by passing the signals at the Women's Peace League, KR Road, Kanakapura road, it would have been really meaning full. Also, the traffic flow is towards the Jain college - Sajjan Rao circle, so a ramp like the ramp on the anand rao circle flyover towards race course is needed on the east bound route towards Jain College. With the available space on the KR Road junction below this flyover, 4 loops could have been easily built which was not done. This shows the incapability of the builder and very poor judging ability of our then Mayor/MLA Chandrashekar who forced the design without any consultation with Traffic police or experts. Many of the businesses such as the Butter Sponge, a very famous bakery lost its business because of this flyover inconvenicnce since its foot print is very large on the road. I would say, simply demolish this!!!

Help required for design of alternatives

Arun - 5 November, 2008 - 06:29

This comment has been moved here.

I Second What Mr.Murali Says

Naveen - 8 November, 2008 - 09:01

Hi Srivatsava & all,

Mr.Murali's expressions above are exactly what we stand for in Praja. I strongly support what he says & believes. Quite correctly, he indicates that opinions can vary vastly, & debates are the only way ahead, always. I salute Mr.Murali for putting this across in such an excellent manner.

Cheers to Praja !

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