1 week Ago
Bengaluru: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's Rs 2.5-crore LED lighting project at the 185-metre-long twin-tube underpass near Magadi Road toll gate, west Bengaluru, hasn't gone down well with motorists. Regular users of the underpass say the overly bright LED lights are causing severe glare, making night-time driving difficult and risky.
Designed to transform the underpass into a visual spectacle, the sleek, criss-cross LED strip lights create geometric patterns meant to brighten the space and give it an artistic flair. Inspired by designs in cities such as Dubai and Hyderabad, the project aims to infuse a sense of modernity into the typically mundane commute. But for bikers and motorists who pass through the stretch at night, the reality is far from ideal.
"The lights are so intense, they hit your eyes directly. It's hard to focus, especially when you're on a two-wheeler," said Sharat Rao, who uses the underpass daily. Rajath Lakshmesha, another commuter, said, "It looks great on social media, but on the road, it's a nightmare.
The glare from the lights is so sharp I have to slow down or shield my eyes. It's more of a distraction than a help." Citizens have questioned the logic behind spending Rs 2.
5 crore on decorative lighting when the city struggles with pothole-riddled roads, waterlogged underpasses, and crumbling civic infrastructure. "There's no money for basic repairs, but crores are being spent to make an underpass look fancy," fumed Karthik Kumar, a resident of Vijayanagar. BBMP engineers said this is a pilot project aimed at enhancing the city's urban landscape.
They've used ACP (aluminium composite panel) paint on the walls, which is said to last 10 years and resist dust, water, and smoke. "The idea was to avoid yearly repainting and create a visually appealing public space," said Prakash, executive engineer of Govindarajanagar division. However, mobility experts aren't convinced.
Mukund Singh, a transport specialist, opined that the civic body has ignored safety in pursuit of aesthetics. "These LED lights are a distraction. There's a reason the Indian Roads Congress preferred sodium vapour lamps — because they offer a full 360-degree light spread, unlike LEDs, which give only 180 degrees," he said.
Singh also alleged that BBMP's decision to opt for LED lighting over more functional alternatives seems to be commercially driven. "It's all about show and shine. Long-term public interest and safety have taken a back seat," he added.
Ashish Verma, urban mobility expert and professor at IISc, said: "LED lights can be particularly distracting during night driving. The glare, especially when combined with headlight reflection, can directly hit the eyes. Glare recovery is a serious issue — it can cause momentary blindness.
If the driver doesn't recover quickly, it could result in collisions with other motorists or stationary objects, potentially leading to accidents.".
