The ride to the Bangalore International Airport in Devanahalli may not be that rough after all. Taking the first step towards a smoother passage, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will on January 16 begin building an underpass using pre-cast box structures on T Chowdaiah Road near Kaveri junction.

The Palike had proposed seven such underpasses to ease traffic movement to Devanahalli.  

Palike commissioner Dr S Subramanya on Monday detailed the process: The first day’s work will commence with ground digging at 10 am on January 16. On Day Two, all the 20 pre-cast elements (pre-cast structure models) will be placed. Day three will see the underpass asphalted, and the approach up and down ramps completed. The road will be free for vehicular on the fourth day, he assured.

Subramanya said an underpass could not be built at the Kaveri Junction (Palace Road) since shifting seven pipelines under the junction was tough. “For the last 14 years, a grade separator and underpass were planned at Kaveri junction. But it was not successful as shifting the utilities was difficult. Moreover hard rock is located 4.5 metres below the ground. These difficulties forced the Palike to build an underpass on Sankey Road,” he explained.

Once the Chowdiah Road work is completed, vehicles moving from BDA junction towards Mekri Circle should turn left at Kaveri junction and take a U-turn at the underpass to join the Bellary Road. “There will be no traffic movement between Bhashyam Circle (Sadashivanagar) and Kaveri junction while the work is on. Traffic on adjoining roads will be diverted accordingly for the three days,” he said.

Deadline

Subramanya said the BDA junction underpass work will begin on January 19, once the Sankey Road work is completed. For Bellary road commuters, an overbridge will be built. The underpass work at Windsor Manor junction will be done from January 28 to 31. The facility will allow three rows of traffic movement.

Assuring that the deadline will be met, BBMP commissioner said seven underpasses will be ready by March 28.

Underpasses will come up at CBI office junction, Sanjay Nagar Junction, Hebbal junction and Hebbal police station junction.