‘Pause ORR white-topping till Blue Line work is over’

Bengaluru

The recently an nounced white topping project on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) by the Greater Bengaluru Devel opment Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has not gone down well with some stake holders, including commuters and the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA). Both have opposed the plan citing severe traffic disruption and suggested that the work should begin after the metro’s Blue Line work is completed. For mobility experts, the project, while beneficial, would be better timed as ORRCA has suggested. Mobility expert and founder of Sustainancy Consultants Vivek Pai said, “It would be ideal to do it after the metro work is finished, as otherwise it would cause a lot of disruption without people getting much of an alternative.

I understand the opposition, as white-topping usually needs several days to cure, and it makes utility repairs difficult. For two-wheeler riders and auto passengers, it can get uncomfortable as well. However, it usually has a longer lifespan, is more durable, and offers better visibility in low light.” The project will also re quire management by the traffic police, who have already prepared a plan for the duration of the work, said the Assistant Commissioner of Traffic Police (East Division). “We have already grant ed permission and will divert traffic to whichever lane is not being white topped, as is normally done.

We will also divert traffic from the main road to al ternative roads within the areas,” he said. Commuters too were vexed by the plan, worrying that their already long commute times would in crease. “We have decent roads now on the ORR, but traffic is increasing day by day. We don’t want it to get worse by blocking the roads for white-topping,” said Lakshmi Prashanth, a commuter who travels along the stretch regularly. With the government’s suggestion to ORRCA com panies to implement work from-home having been rejected, no delay or reconsideration has been an nounced by the authorities.