SG Balekundri Circle: a makeover on cards

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

If all goes well, SG Balekundri Circle is set to become one of the beautiful and well-maintained circles or traffic junctions in the city. Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL) has taken up development of the circle at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

According to BSCL sources, there will be an exclusive bus bay and auto rickshaw bay at the circle to avoid inconvenience to the BMTC commuters as well as those who want to hire an auto rickshaw to reach their destinations. “We have been developing the circle and it will have some basic amenities such as concrete benches, elevated platform to facilitate people to get into an auto rickshaw without any hassles and planting saplings to ensure sufficient greenery at the circle,’’ said BSCL assistant executive engineer Kodanda Reddy.

More than a decade ago, the place where a bus stop and auto rickshaw existed was a park. Later it was demolished to make a free left turn for BMTC buses, autorickshaws and two-wheelers proceeding towards Infantry Road, Cubbon Road, MG Road, Raj Bhavan Road and other areas. Even after converting the park into a bus stop, there was chaos.

The place was known for parking auto rickshaws haphazardly thus causing inconvenience to BMTC buses as well as other motorists. “With facilitating an exclusive lane for auto rickshaws, there will be no hassles for BMTC buses and other vehicles at this circle,” the BSCL assistant executive engineer said.

The construction of an elevated platform and extension of the circle (towards Cunningham Road) is in progress. It may be recalled that the BSCL has already taken up development of a stretch in front of Eden Park Hotel. A footpath along one side (along Eden Park Hotel) is being developed and work is in progress to develop a parking place on the storm water drain (along the compound wall of the Information and Public Relations Department). “We are expecting the ongoing works to be completed in a month,” the BSCL assistant executive engineer said. Many auto rickshaw drivers have welcomed the BSCL’s decision to improve and develop Balekundri Circle. They said that they would have no hassles to wait for passengers at a designated place near the circle. “I welcome BSCL’s plan to develop the circle. It will help us to have exclusive space at the circle,” said Ashok K, an auto driver.

Meanwhile, Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers’ Association secretary C Sampath has said that he wanted the authorities to make a provision for installing a prepaid auto rickshaw facility at the circle. “It will be a great help for auto rickshaw drivers if the authorities facilitate prepaid auto rickshaw facility at two sides (one is (north side) towards Cunningham Road and the other one is (east side) towards Queen’s Road, Cubbon Road). It will help not only auto rickshaw drivers but also passengers,’’ said Sampath.