Traffic congestion to continue for atleast 2 years in KR Puram

By Anuksha Dey

After lying dormant for about two years in KR Puram, the Metro line construction site near Jyothipura is showing signs of progress. However, residents might have to wait a few years for the Tin Factory traffic congestion to ease.

The Tin factory junction, which connects East Bangalore to Central Bangalore, is riddled with many problems: buses plying from Marathahalli to KR Puram, pedestrians refusing to use the skywalk, speeding vehicles, and narrow roads that cannot handle heavy traffic. The result leads to KR Puram’s infamous traffic gridlock. 

The long-awaited extension of Bangalore’s Purple line to Whitefield along with the construction of the Benniganahalli flyover is supposed to ease the conditions at Tin Factory Junction, one of Bangalore’s worst traffic bottlenecks.

On a normal day, commuters often complained of having to wait 45 minutes to cross the 1.5km stretch. However, construction work at the junction is adding to the congestion and making this wait even longer.

Why are these projects important?

The Metro Line extension is a part of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)’s Namma Metro phase 2 project which plans to improve connectivity in Bangalore by expanding the Metro line in all the four directions. The constructions at the Tin Factory Junction are part of the Purple Line extension, which will connect Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield. 

Once the Metro extension project is complete, the Tin Factory junction will have three Metro lines passing through it due to its central location: Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield, Outer Ring Road-Kempegowda International Airport and depot entry line. This will improve connectivity to East Bangalore. 

The flyover construction which is proceeding alongside the Metro rail expansion project is meant to connect the Tin Factory hanging bridge to Benniganahalli and ease the traffic congestion. There are also plans to widen the existing roads to ensure that the construction of the new Metro lines does not disrupt the traffic flow.

The progress so far…

The purple line extension project from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield which was cleared in 2014, is finally gaining pace. The pillars to hold up the elevated Metro tracks have already been constructed and rail lines are being laid near the Tin Factory Junction.

The structure for the metro station at Tin Junction is also complete. The land acquisition work is in progress. According to BBMP officials, the line will be complete by March 2021. The flyover construction is also happening simultaneously, and parts of the overpass is already built. However, the flyover construction cannot be completed before the Metro line is ready.

As of today, the Tin Factory road is blocked by the construction work. Parts of the road have been dug, and pillars for the metro-line are seen everywhere. The half-constructed flyover with ramps ending in the middle of the road is a major obstruction for cars plying in the vicinity. The heavy-duty cranes being used on the road are further disrupting the traffic. 

What is causing the delay?

According to Channappa Gowda, Special Land Acquisition Officer for BMRCL, 57 properties still need to be acquired before the roads can be widened near the KR Puram Railway Station and Jyotipur underpass. Besides, BMRCL is yet to get permission from the Karnataka High Court to clear 60 trees near Benniganahalli lake. 

It is predicted that the Metro line will not be completed for at least two years due to delays in the land acquisition process. The traffic police must work hard to overcome the challenges brought about by the construction work.