Sampige Road stretch of Malleswaram Circle grade separator was opened for vehicles on Monday evening.

However, construction of underpass (on Mahakavi Kuvempu Road) will take three more months to complete.

The BBMP had assured residents the Sampige Road part of the underpass will be opened on August 15. Later, the date was postponed to October 31.

However, allowing vehicles on Sampige Road alone will not ease traffic in Malleswaram. It will help only vehicles heading towards Yeshwanthpur from Majestic. Vehicles towards Rajajinagar will still have to take a left turn at Sampige Theatre to reach Mahakavi Kuvempu Road.

Police have not made any changes in the route from Yeshwanthpur side to Majestic.

They will have to ply on Malleswaram VIII or XI cross running perpendicular to Sampige Road to join Link Road. As a result, traffic on Sampige Road is bound to be affected.

Lok Sabha member and BJP leader Ananthkumar expressed his anger against BBMP officials for inaugurating the grade separator in his absence.

The inauguration was scheduled at 5 pm on Monday. Palike administrator Dilip Rau, Commissioner Dr S Subramanya and legislator M R Seetharam arrived at the spot on time. Mr Rau waited for Ananthkumar for 15 minutes and inaugurated the grade separator.

As the officers and MLA were about to leave, Mr Ananthkumar arrived. “I have been elected to the Parliament for four times. Officers of the Palike and MLA have inaugurated the grade separator even without waiting for me. This is highly deplorable.,” he said.

KEY DETAILS

Total length: 180 m
Total cost : Rs 16.41 cr  
Work started: December   
2006
Vehicles allowed on Sampige Road: Nov 5, 2007
Deadline for underpass: Feb 2008