Bengaluru
A railway crossing in Kaggadasapura, nestled within the CV Raman Nagar of Bengaluru, has transformed from a convenience into a motorist’s nightmare due to bureaucratic apathy, political interference, and landowner resistance. The South Western Railway sanctioned a road overbridge for this location over a decade ago, but construction remains untouched, leaving the crossing in disrepair and causing significant distress for commuters. The core issues contributing to the persisting problem are the reluctance of bureaucrats, political interventions, and the hesitation of landowners to relinquish their properties. The proposed road overbridge, designed to alleviate traffic woes and streamline vehicular movement, has instead become a symbol of stagnation and neglect. The lack of land acquisition for the bridge’s construction has particularly drawn the ire of motorists, who lay the blame on BBMP officials. Compounding the problem, the level crossing gate is closed approximately 14 times daily to accommodate passing trains. This frequent closure exacerbates congestion and disrupts the flow of traffic. The situation is exacerbated by the configuration of the crossing, where four roads function as one-way routes. This arrangement often results in school buses and construction vehicles for ongoing metro projects coming to a halt, further aggravating the congestion. Residents of Kaggadasapura and surrounding areas feel the brunt of this traffic snarl. The steady increase in local vehicles has exacerbated the issue, with traffic jams stretching for considerable distances. In some instances, traffic jams have extended up to a kilometer on the road leading to Mahadevpur. Apprehensions about the potential doubling of the Baiyappanahalli-Hosur route and the subsequent increase in train frequency further compound concerns over the road’s congestion.
