BEL drives to ease traffic

Bharat Electronics has taken up a beautification and decongestion drive around BEL circle by constructing new bus shelters, traffic signals, footpath and toilets.

The effort is also to beautify the historic BEL junction which has undergone many changes over the last few years.

The project has earned the public sector giant another feather in its cap as it has helped to streamline traffic.

The facelift has eased massive congestion witnessed from BEL Circle to Doddabommasandra which witnesses 5,000 CPU per hour during peak hour.

The Navaratna’s CSR initiative has cost Rs 3.16 crore. The initiative was done with the help of renowned traffic management consultant Prof M.N. Sreehari who is also advisor to the Karnataka government on Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure.

Among the initiatives are that the existing traffic islands at BEL Circle have been relocated and the median realigned. New Zebra crossings have been created and solar traffic signals installed.

All three BMTC bus shelters near BEL Circle have been demolished and new ones constructed adjacent to the BEL factory’s boundary wall. 

A separate bus lane has been laid out by moving the bus shelters away from the circle to reduce traffic congestion.

The bus stop near BEL Hospital has been moved to a spot opposite the hospital to avoid traffic congestion. The new bus shelter is located away from the road and an existing drain has been covered with an RCC slab to make way for an autorickshaw stand.

The entire road from BEL Circle to Doddabommasandra via Nagaland Circle has been widened. New tiled footpaths with painted kerb stones have been laid out along with storm water drains and culverts.

New toilets have been constructed at BEL Circle on a pay-and-use basis for both men and women and an agency has been appointed to maintain them.

LED signages for various BEL establishments have been installed on the roadside. A green belt has also been established near the BEL Kendriya Vidyalaya.

The works were inaugurated by BEL CMD M.V. Gowtama along with former CMDs N.L. Krishnan and Capt. S. Prabhala.