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Traffic Flow Change required in Malleswaram area
Written By rs - 20 February, 2009
Traffic Bangalore Congestion Roads parking Malleswaram Analysis Improvement junction Traffic jams
I sent the following letter to several people - Sood, Rajiv Chandrashekhar, Subramanian etc. in the hope of getting some feedback. I just thought I would send it to Praja as well since this topic is being discussed and would appreciate any feedback.
I think a lot of the problems of traffic in Bangalore is due to severe mismanagement. I've sort of thought about this and come up with the following proposal which I think would greatly improve the traffic flow in Malleswaram and perhaps as a result improve the quality of life of the residents there. I am writing about Malleswaram as I live there, am familiar with the traffic and have spent time observing the situation.
I feel that similar proposals can be made for all areas by carefully studying the flow of traffic there and involving some of the residents.
The underlying principle I have used is that one should try to minimize the crossing of traffic going in opposite directions as that is what causes jams. I would appreciate and comments or feedback you might have - one advantage of this proposal is that it is completely reverseable - so it can be tested and accepted or rejected without much expenditure.
The first point to observe is that essentially most traffic in Malleswaram is going through Malleswaram - either from Yeswantpur to the City or vice versa, or from Rajajinagar to the city and vice versa.
There are several points where the traffic gets jammed.
- Mariyamma Circle ( C.V. Raman Circle )
- 18th Cross and Margosa Road
- 18th Cross and 8th Main. ( in the mornings )
- Various points along Sampige Road and Margosa Road.
My primary suggestion is simple - reverse the current direction of Sampige Road and Margosa Road, and make Margosa one way all the way to Mariyamma circle. The benefits are the following.
- This provides a straight unobstructed road from Yeswantpur Circle to Majestic. Currently the traffic has to circle 3/4 of Mariyamma circle and turn on to Margosa to go to Majestic. Also, traffic from Majestic has to go the `wrong way' on the side of the underbridge to come to Malleswaram, finally switching sides once more.
- As things stand, the bus stand at 18th cross is on the wrong side of the road. If the road is made one way, this problem will be solved. Further, one can create a free left from 18th Cross towards Yeshwantpur which would benefit a lot of people much of the local traffic in Malleswaram is towards IISc. I've noticed that as things stand busses cross 18th cross on Margosa road, coming out the bus stand and completely blocking traffic for the entire extent of a signal. This seems really silly to me.
- Once again, there will be no crossing at Mariyamma circle.
- Traffic coming from Sankey Tank in to Malleswaram can immediately turn on to Sampige instead of coming up and turning on Margosa. This would lessen the burden on the stretch between Margosa and Sampige on 18th Cross.
- Traffic coming from Sankey Tank bridge towards Yeswantpur will be forced to take a left - but this would ease the current jam that occurs at 18th Cross and Sankey bridge.
- A proper bus stand can be developed at 18th Cross and Sampige Road.
- There is a new mall ( Mantri Greens ) which will cause a lot of traffic at 1st Cross and Sampige. If the direction is reversed this traffic can be made to flow OUT rather than IN to Malleswaram. Also, the area near the Rajiv Gandhi statue will be cleared and can be developed for parking.
- Traffic coming from Shivananda circle will have a free left and can once more turn left and then right on to Seshadripuram Link Road ( the current direction of that will also have to be reversed. ) This prevents the intersection of traffic that junction as well.
- Within Malleswaram a lot of lanes should be made one way with parking only on one side. Certain arterial roads like 15th Cross and 9th Cross should be both ways, but the rest should be made one way. Access to Sampige and Margosa should be restricted. This would improve the flow of traffic and traffic lights could be installed at the major junctions.
- The region around 8th Cross between Margosa and Sampige and between 10th cross and 7th cross should be closed to traffic and pedestrianized. People like to walk there and it would be so much more pleasant if there were no vehicles one had to look out for. As things stand, its bad both for vehicles and people. Access should be allowed till 11 am for deliveries to the stores. and perhaps after 10pm as well. Parking can be made on 9th Cross if necessary.
- I noticed that in the last couple of days there have been some new signs added under the B-TRAC proposal. While in general this is good, I have the following comment about one particular one. There is a `STOP' sign on 17th Cross at 4th Main. However, 17th Cross is a much more heavily trafficked road than 4th main, so perhaps the STOP sign should be on 4th Main instead. In fact, 9th, 15th, 17th and 18th cross are much more heavily trafficked than the most of the main roads, apart from Margosa and Sampige, so there too stop signs should be placed on the main road rather than the cross road.
- On an related note I should also mention that I feel that they can do one more thing to improve the flow of traffic at Shivananda Circle. Traffic coming from Race Course Road shoudl be made to take the SECOND LEFT on to Kumarakrupa Road and it should be a Hare Krishna Road shoud be made ONE WAY between Shivananda Circle and Race Course road. This woudl prevent a lot of traffic build up at Shivananda Circle and in fact make it possible to not even have a signal there. As things stand the road is narrow, trees are being cut and two-wheelers routinely go on to the wrong side of the road
COMMENTS
rs, can you show this on a map!
kbsyed61 - 20 February, 2009 - 15:37
rs,
Could you pls post some maps to show the changes you are proposing? Post both current map as well as propsed change map.
Even though I am very well acquinted with Mallewaran vicinity (having spent evenings on 8th cross etc), I didn't get some your suggestions? May be things have changed in past 10 yrs. In my last trip to India in 2006, I found Malleswaram to be less congested than other parts of B'lore. May be a coincidence. Actually I took a bus from Shivaji Nagar to reach Malleswaram.
Looking forward to some visual aid?
Syed
mcadambi - 20 February, 2009 - 09:59
I had the same idea sometime back to make Margosa Road facing Ammani College and Kendriya Vidyalaya School a one way instead of the two way that it is now.
The few units that use Margosa Road to approach Maramma Circle can go straigth on 17th cross and take a left at the CET Cell towards Maramma Circle.
Majority of the traffic comes from Maramma Circle on Margosa Road. So having a one way there will greatly ease the flow of traffic.
Sometime back, they made 17th Cross (the HDFC Bank road) a one way. This helped a lot in not creating traffic jams. The new dividers on 17th cross as well as the ones on the Malleswaram Entrance of Sankey Tank have helped regulate the flow of traffic.
It is better to approach Shri Dr C N Ashwath Narayan instead of Rajeev Chandrashekar. Dr CNAN is more a micro level man and can better manage Malleswaram. To his credit, he did tar important roads like 8th Cross and Sampige Roads.
Platform Road, Sampige Theatre Junction
mcadambi - 20 February, 2009 - 10:05
Platform Road clearly needs a divider. The signal at Sampige Junction should be removed and Mill Corner Road (to the left of Mantri Greens) should be made a oneway for traffic coming on Sampige Road and taking only a left on Mill Corner Road.
The above iniative itself would clearly relieve the jam at Sampige Theatre Junction.
8th Cross cannot be pedestrianised. It is a crucial exit from Malleswaram and towards Guthalli and thence to Bellary Road and Vasanthnagar et al.
It takes political will to clear hawkers from 8th cross, but that needs to be done. Instead of 8th Cross, East Park Road and West Park Roads can be made into Hawker / Vendor Zones. 9th Cross (behind Ganesha Temple) can be made a Hawker's Zone as well.
Signals are needed at 11th Cross, 10th Cross junctions with Sampige Road and Margosa Road. Even 15th Cross needs a signal and a small median.
Reversal of one way directions.
rs - 20 February, 2009 - 12:17
An important facet of my plan is reversing the current directions of Sampige and Margosa. By doing so your problem of 8th Cross being essential is no longer an issue as I only recommend closing 8th Cross between Margosa and Sampige. Vehicles could then travel on Sampige road and turn left on to 8th main. Traffic coming from Malleswaram can go down 11th or 13th or 15th Cross, take a right on to Sampige and another left on to 8th cross to exit Malleswaram.
If they do improve 11th main which becomes Mill Corner Road than that would provide another bypass from Rajajinagar to the city for traffic coming on 17th Cross. By the way, I suppose your comments earlier refered to 18th Cross and not 17th Cross.
My point about reversing the current directions of Sampige and Margosa is, apart from the fact that traffic coming form Yeswantpur does not have to intersect with traffic in the opposite direction at Maramma circle, traffic going towards IISc will have a free left turn at what is now 18th Cross bus stand. Further, as things stand the bus stand is on the wrong side of the road - so buses have to cross the road to get in.
As you say, though, even if they dont do this they should make Margosa one way all the way from Maramma circle towards 18th Cross. It has taken me 10 minutes to cross this small segment on a bicycle !
- Ramesh
rs, how is current traffic flow!
kbsyed61 - 21 February, 2009 - 11:59
Ramesh,
Thanks for the proposed map. Now it becomes clear what you are suggesting. Can you mark the current traffic flow map?
Regards,
Syed
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