×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Cauvery underpass in City to make way for steel flyover

Last Updated 23 November 2014, 20:08 IST

In a major infrastructure surgery, a widened Sankey Road will make way for a 6.7-km elevated steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal flyover.

To be executed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), this structure will mean that the much-maligned Cauvery “magic” underpass will finally be removed.

The Supreme Court had on Saturday approved the State government’s acquisition of 16 acres and three guntas of Palace Grounds, a decision that will hasten the flyover construction.

However, BDA sources maintained that the steel structure would be built on the median, without drastically affecting the existing width of the road. The new BDA structure will also mean demolition of the existing overpass at the BDA’s head office. This structure had also been criticised a lot for its poor quality of construction.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the flyover project is being prepared. However, it is learnt that the total cost will be in the range of Rs 1,200 crore. Tenders are expected to be called within the next two months. The project is likely to be completed within 18 months from the date of awarding of contract. The project would be executed on a turnkey basis, according to BDA sources.

A senior BDA official said the project, however, has no direct connection with road-widening. “Widening or not, it will be executed. We are at the stage of preparing DPR,” said the official.

Once the elevated structure is ready, it will be integrated with the Hebbal flyover with a few structural modifications. This will ensure seamless passage of vehicles from Kempegowda International Airport up to the Chalukya Circle in the heart of the city.

  The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s role will be limited to widening the road from the existing 80 ft to 160ft and the demolition jobs. It could also become involved in the disbursement of Transferable Development Rights certificates as compensation for the acquired land.

The underpass at the Cauvery theatre junction was built using “magic boxes” as a temporary remedy to the regular traffic congestion at the spot. Yet, it could not offer much relief to either commuters or traffic cops.  The project, which was to be completed in three days, had run into trouble and was delayed by months.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 23 November 2014, 20:08 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT