Bengaluru To Revamp City Junctions For Pedestrian Safety And Traffic Decongestion Under ‘Suraksha 75’ Project

With the objective of decongesting vehicular movements, ensuring walkability and pedestrian safety, 75 city junctions in Bengaluru are set to be redesigned with a budget allocation of Rs 150 crore.  

The redevelopment of the junctions will be carried out under the ‘Suraksha 75’ project.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday (27 March) unveiled the ‘Suraksha 75’ project to provide a ‘global standard’ of pedestrian safety and to streamline vehicular movement, as per reports.

The decision for revamping the city junctions was initially announced in the BBMP’s Budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 — which aimed to facilitate major road infrastructure developments for the city.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has partnered with World Resources Institute (WRI) India and Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety to redesign the junctions, as per a Deccan Herald report.

The city of Bengaluru has more than 1,000 intersections and 350 signalised junctions.

According to a recent press release, 123 pedestrian deaths occurred within a 250-m radius of these 75 junctions over the previous four years.

BBMP’s chief engineer, B S Prahalad said the junctions have been identified based on road safety research and traffic density.

He expressed, “Footpaths along these junctions will also be improved. The main aim of this programme is to upgrade the city junctions at a scale to improve access, walkability, safety and overall quality of life, for all road users, equally.”

Some of the important junctions selected under the project are KR Puram, Silk Board junction, Kanteerava studio junction, BEL Circle, Kengeri bus terminal, Garguntepalya, NES bus stop, Sarakki, Kudlu Gate, Yelahanka New Town, Hebbal junction Mahadevapura, Marathahalli, Yeshwantpur, Forum Mall, Devegowda petrol bunk, Nayandahalli and Sumanahalli junction

The knowledge partner agency for the project, WRI India’s interim CEO, Madhav Pai noted that India accounts for 11 per cent of road fatalities in the world, although it has just one per cent of the world’s vehicles.

“We must re-imagine our roads and streets to make them safer and inclusive. Research establishes that pedestrian-friendly streets also make vehicular movement more efficient,” he said.

Previously, under the Bengaluru Smart City, some junctions had already been redeveloped such as Rajbhavan Circle, Minsk Square junction, Anil Kumble Circle, Trinity Circle, Corporation bus stop, Domlur, and Windsor Manor junction.