Cycle tracks, bollards, islands, pelican signals and more
By Qamar ZJ
HSR Layout will not be the same again. It will look better, if the non-motorised infrastructure is developed, according to the prescribed standards.
We are talking about remodelling the footpaths of the following roads: 14th Main, 17th Cross, 19th Main and 27th Main. The works that began a few months ago are proceeding slowly, if not briskly. All the tiles on footpaths are being systematically removed, forcing the pedestrians to take to the roads.
One resident even fell in the drain at night for lack of any warning sign. We wrote about it in our previous issue. The footpaths are a complete mess. Some residents are wondering why perfectly well-laid out pavements are broken again on certain stretches. But then, this has to be done to bring in uniformity in design and standards, argue officials.
The long-pending cycle tracks are finally going to come up on these roads. In addition, the storm water drains will be desilted and shoulder drains will be provided. Bollards will also be placed to ward off motorised vehicles. There will be physical barricades to separate the cycle tracks from vehicular traffic. That’s not all. The various junctions along these roads will be improved to Tendersure standards. Take that to mean, pelican signals (where residents can press a button and stop traffic), road signages and medians to prevent jams and unnecessary overtaking. Wherever necessary, traffic islands will also come up to match the contours of the road and the flow of traffic.
It may be recalled that more than a year ago, members of Hasiru Mithra and Residents Watch had approached then city development minister KJ George and gave him a proposal to build these very roads to Tendersure standards. Though that proposal is still hanging fire, at least the non-motorised infrastructure is being made to match up to that standard.
This is yet another success story of what HSR residents and this magazine have done in the last few years.
