Kaggadasapura level crossing snarls
Frequent snarls at level crossing on `U’ turn
Rasheed Kappan
It’s an everyday battle to cross this junction during peak hours for residents of Kaggadasapura
A LONG WAIT AHEAD: A common scene at the Kaggadasapura level crossing. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar
BANGALORE: Caught in a traffic jam on either side of the railway track leading to Salem, the road-users cursed their predicament once more on Wednesday morning. Stuck at the Kaggadasapura railway level crossing, they had to find their way through a narrow road on a `U’ turn.
Their ordeal worsened when the railway gate was closed for the Salem passenger to pass from the Byappanahalli railway station.
In five minutes, there was a long line of vehicles on both sides of the track. Among the vehicles caught in the chaos were BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses, school vans, trucks, water tankers, cars, jeeps and two-wheelers. There was no traffic constable to bring a semblance of order.
The Kaggadasapura level crossing is located on the periphery of the Mahadevapura City Municipal Council. The road at the railway gate is only 20 ft wide.
The residents of Sri Raja Rajeshwari (SRR) Colony, the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) townships, B. Narayanapura and other areas have no other option but to take the road, which is their only link.
Krishnappa, who has manned the railway gate since 1997, said: “There is always a traffic jam when the gates are closed for trains to pass — at 8.15 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. If a policeman is posted here, he could make things slightly better.”
S. Ramesh, president of SRR Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, said he makes sure to cross the track before 8.15 a.m. to escape the chaos.
O.S. Dasan, general secretary of the association, said that in December, he met the Divisional Manager, South Western Railways, and urged him to widen the level crossing (LC 136) as the road cannot accommodate two-way traffic.
Kaggadasapura Main Road is narrow because of encroachments on the roadsides.
Mathews, who lives in the area, said that on Tuesday morning, his company bus was caught in the traffic jam for an hour.
Source – The Hindu, 28 Jul, 2005
Can we (residents of Kaggadasapura & Narayanapura) do something to atleast reduce the time to clear chaos and traffic jams at the level crossing?
Yes!
Firstly avoid reaching the railway gate when it is closed. To know the approximate timings when the railway gate is closed daily see here
Just keep to left side of the road while waiting at the gate for the train.
Do not rush and try to overtake others in the level crossing once the gate is opened.
Four wheelers can leave some space near the gate for the two wheelers who flood the railway gate, and allow two wheelers to cross first to reduce time in traffic clearing and chaos.
Vehicles coming from Vigyanpura side should either wait slightly behind without blocking the traffic coming from Narayanapura side of the track, or join the queue on Kaggadasapura Main Road.
Now a traffic constable is posted at this railway level crossing to control the traffic during peak hours.
A flyover seems to be the solution for this problem and co-operation of residents to project this problem to authorities is the need of the hour. It is also learnt that DRDO has sanctioned for an underground tunnel for use by residents of DRDO phase II.
Yours further suggestions on this topic are welcome. Do post comments on what you think or at the Kaggadasapura Forum.
July 6th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Underground tunnel is a best and fastest work( Magic Box) which takes only maximum of 4 weeks. in many places it has been successfully done hence we should go for it.
Suresh
November 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Fly Over or under pass tunnel is the only solution for this. If this activity not start immediately, by next 1-2 years will a big challenge for Kaggadasapura people.
May 19th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
I lived my life in kaggadaspura for 5 years after moving from thippasandra, i know this place for about 30 years, The apartments and buildings have come up like bee hives, govt collects so much revenues out of taxes it goes thru hundreds of crores and the train crossing, the narrow small road is still the same, those reddy’s build a hanuman temple so that the govt does not widen the road in hurting their shops, they don’t want you go get cauvery water, so that they cant sell their tanker water, their buddy MLA raghu makes their life easy and accordingly, shame on him
May 19th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
And that is the only place i know after palestine which is densely populated where you dont have even a small park for the elderly to relax or play with their kids, people in jails are better off environmentaly then people in kaggadaspura, Shame on MLA Raghu and our politicians
July 13th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
May be this is the place ver you can
find maximum numbers of dogs, cows, tractor and apartments.
If you are driving a car you will stuck either
behind a BTS or tactor. And there is no parallel roads to escape.
No provision for garbage.
Hard to find a tree in kagadasapura.
Telling about the Railway cross,
in this root. I am staying in kagadasapura from 3 years and i travel form office to here
may be 20 km in 45 min in car and use to stuck at this gate for 1 to 2 hrs > mostly evening
in between 6.30 to 8pm. From the gate my house is just 5minutes walkable.
But noboday takes initiative to solve the problem. They can atleast widen the gate and use maximum
roadspace for vehicles. Then use divider. No sign boards provided. Many times vehicles are parked
near the gate. Otherwise provide signal system 100mter away from the gate. I am sure
people will obey signal system. And use only one traffice police instead of 3.