Citizens’ collective alerts rail authorities ahead of traffic woes

BENGALURU: A citizens’ collective, including residents from Vasanthnagar, has written to South Western Railways (SWR), raising concerns about the ongoing development of Cantonment station, near Millers Road. From removal of heritage trees to causing congestion at bus stops and pedestrian crossings, the works have thrown up plenty of issues.
Coming together under the banner of Citizens For Citizens (C4C), they have underlined that vehicular and pedestrian traffic are high at the entrance of the railway station and have pleaded with rail authorities to incorporate efficient traffic management systems in their redevelopment plans to make way for integrated public transport systems.
Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of C4C, said in a letter to the rail authorities that the present traffic movement in front of Cantonment is so heavy crossing the road on foot is a nightmare in the day.
Suburban rail stn
A new station for the upcoming Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP) corridor, between Kengeri and Whitefield, will be built most likely on top of the present station as an elevated structure. C4C highlighted that the present average daily footfall at Cantonment railway station is about 20,000.
With BSRP station, stipulated to be commissioned by 2026, the footfall will only go up and the junction will see new dedicated trains every 5-12 minutes. The commercial project on the land opposite to the station will also lead to further rise in the number of people at the location.
Solution: Connecting road
The collective urged authorities from different departments to consider a revamp of Udaya TV junction, i.e. Millers-Cantonment-Thimmiah Road junction, and also sought development of a connecting road through the land opposite the railway station that will be repurposed for commercial use as per the current plan.
Activists say a 75m connecting road between the new 24m road and Thimmiah Road (up to Alliance Francaise) will provide a bypass route to numerous vehicles and an exit for those visiting the commercial site. On-ground analysis by C4C shows the proposed 75m road already exists but a wall along Thimmiah Road needs to be removed to make the path usable.
The Rail Land Development Authority has written back to C4C about the proposed 75m road and said the matter will be reviewed and necessary action taken.