Bangalore: Fly over the trains at Byappanahalli

BANGALORE: Here is good news for those who dread using Byappanahalli Railway level crossing to reach Maruthisevanagar and Banaswadi from Old Madras Road. If all goes well, lakhs of people who use this level crossing need not wait for the train to pass through to cross the road. The South Western Railway is taking up construction of a railway over bridge at Byappanahalli level crossing at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore.

A serpentine queue of vehicles is a daily feature on either side of the Railway crossing. “One has to wait for more than 20 minutes during the peak hours to pass through the level crossing,” says M Swaminathan, an autorickshaw driver.

With vehicular traffic increasing by the day, one has to think twice before using this road, though it is a short route to reach the other side. As per an estimation by the Railways, 11,41,760 vehicles pass through this level crossing everyday.

“The construction of a rail over bridge will be of great help for those who use this road daily. It has become a Herculean task to regulate traffic during peak hours,” says a traffic constable. Since the road connects Cox Town and Jeevanahalli, residents of these areas are ecstatic. “It will be convenient to reach Banaswadi and other areas once the construction of the railway over bridge is complete,” says N S Ravi, president, Bharathinagar Residents’ Welfare Association.

The construction of the bridge commenced in May and work on the approach road in November. The construction of the railway over bridge is expected to be completed by June 30, 2012. “We will complete the work within the stipulated period,” assures S Mani, Railway Divisional Manager, South Western Railways.

Help in conducting last rituals peacefully

The railways also plan to construct an underpass for the benefit of people from Sathyanagar, Maruthi Sevanagar and other areas to access the burial grounds — Hindu and Christian — at Kalpally.

“It will not be viable for people from Sathyanagar and other areas to use the railway over bridge. The proposed underpass will facilitate movement of bodies for cremation or burial without any hassles,” says a railway official, on condition of anonymity. 

The residents of nearby areas heave a sigh of relief on the news of these development works.

Original news source