Chord Road underpass just got brighter and safer

Bengaluru: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the city, the 185-metre-long twin-tube Chord Road underpass, near Magadi Road toll gate, west Bengaluru is being transformed into a visual spectacle, with sleek, criss cross LED lights.
The geometric patterns of illumination not only brighten the space, but also add an artistic touch, making every day commute a bit more vibrant for motorists.
The twin-tube underpass was executed at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. Currently, one side of the underpass wall is lit up with the strip-profile LED lighting, giving a classy look for commuters. However, the installation work on the other three walls is under way, and similar lighting is expected soon.
Ravishankar H K, a resident of Vijayanagar, expressed excitement about the new lights, saying, "It is a very good thing that they have put out such lights. The underpass used to be very dark, but now it is bright, very safe and helpful for commuters. There are turns on both sides of the underpass, so it used to be very scary at night without bright light, and now it looks cool as well. Good addition to the underpass."
Sudi, a resident of Chandra Layout, who regularly commutes through the stretch, said, "Lights are very helpful. But my concern is who will maintain them? These fancy stuff get spoilt easily. Initially, we had small lights that stopped working, and then full-length streetlights were installed, and even those were damaged. Now these design lights have come up. If maintained well, we will welcome such new designs, which make our city look beautiful."
Kumar V, an auto driver from Vijayanagar 5th Main, told TOI, "One side of the underpass was closed for a few months earlier for installing these lights. The lights look very nice and attractive, but as a local, I feel that there is no need for spending on these lights when there are so many other problems, which need immediate attention."
The work is being undertaken by BBMP's Govindrajnagar division. "Underpasses in Mumbai and Delhi are beautified with unique designs. So we wanted to try this out in our city too, and hence, we came up with LED strip-profile lighting. The work started three months ago, and the work on all four walls will be finished approximately in the next two months," a BBMP official from the west zone told TOI.
Talking about the design and maintenance, the official explained, "Once laid, these lights will last for a maximum of four to five months. Only side walls will get the lights, and the roof will be painted with bubble designs due to concerns of height getting reduced with light installation. The lights are designed two meters above the road surface level so that there will be no concerns with electricity and rain."