There's hope for alternative road, second entrance to airport

The new road will run parallel to National Highway-7

Traffic on Ballari Road, which is the only access to Kempegowda International Airport from the city, might ease with the state government finally starting work on the missing links for the long-pending alternative road from Nagawara on the Outer Ring Road to the rear of the airport. 

If things goes according to plan, the airport - which handled a record 18 million passengers last year - will not only have a toll-free alternative road, but a much-needed second entrance from the southwest corner of its compound in the next six months. 

A top source in the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd confirmed the new development. 

He said: “The airport would have another entrance at the southwest corner of its compound as and when the alternative road from Nagawara-Thanisandra is complete. The new entrance would be similar to the existing one at the western side with access to vehicles to the airport.”  

The proposed alternative road, which runs parallel to NH-7 (Devanahalli) would help east Bengaluru commuters to reach the airport without taking the chaotic Hebbal flyover as well as the tolled Ballari Road. Motorists can reach Nagawara, move towards Thanisandra and Bagalur till the proposed new entrance on the southwest corner without touching the tolled Ballari Road. 

“The project involves bridging the missing links to connect the existing mix of two- and four-lane road from Nagawara Junction-Thanisandra-Bagalur-Mylanahalli. This provides a shorter route to the airport for motorists from Central Silk Board, Whitefield, HSR Layout, BTM Layout, KR Puram among others,” a senior official from the Public Works Department told Deccan Herald. 

The project involves acquiring 13-acres of land to connect a three-kilometre missing link at Mylanahalli, Chikkanahalli, Begur and Bettakote in Devanahalli taluk. “We have initiated the process of acquiring 13-acres of land and tenders have been floated for road work. Of the proposed total Rs 31.50 crore grants, about Rs 21.80 crore is earmarked to acquire private properties and Rs 9.70 crore is the project cost. The work would be completed in less than six months,” he said. 

The work consists of widening and improvements to Jala-Mylanahalli road from Mylanahalli to the southwest corner junction of KIAL boundary in Devanahalli taluk, construction of approach road from Jala-Mylanahalli road (MDR) to southwest side of KIAL boundary and widening of the approach road from SH-104 (cargo road) to KIAL boundary on the eastern side in Devanahalli taluk. 

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had earlier taken up a project for an alternative, toll-free road to the airport but it never took off.
 Experts feel that a second road would be crucial for airport users since alternatives like the proposed High Speed Rail Link and a Metro connectivity may take long to materialise.