<p>Facing a barrage of criticism over its decision to construct a steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal, a seemingly perplexed government on Friday increased the length of the structure by an additional 1.6 km from 6.7 km, extending it all the way up to Esteem Mall.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This means the steel flyover will have to be constructed above the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Urban Development Department (UDD) Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain, who is also the chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), however, claimed on Friday that the Cabinet had approved the project between Basaveshwara Circle and Esteem Mall – beyond the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Interestingly, documents released by the government – right from the day the Cabinet briefing was made till Bengaluru Development Minister K J George released the salient features of the project on Wednesday – state that the flyover is only till the starting point of Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />In the Cabinet briefing on September 28, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, too, said the project was till Hebbal flyover. Following severe public criticism, the minister released a link through the BDA website on October 12, which also stated that the project was only till Hebbal.<br /><br />Even the 164-page Detailed Project Report, dated December 8, 2015, posted by BDA at 9 pm on Friday, does not mention that the steel flyover will run till Esteem Mall. It also does not elaborate as to how the flyover will make its way above the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Earlier this year, BDA had organised a groundbreaking ceremony to demolish the Nagawara link loop of Hebbal flyover as part of the steel flyover project. Jain, however, said the Hebbal flyover will not be altered while erecting the steel flyover.<br /><br />“Nothing on Hebbal flyover will be demolished. It will remain as it is, while the steel flyover will go above the existing flyover,” he said, adding that the government was still open to suggestions from people and the same would be incorporated in the plan.<br /><br />Decision not final<br />Meanwhile, a BDA official, on the condition of anonymity, said the decision to extend the steel flyover’s length by 1.6 km was not finalised yet. He was, however, quiet on the cost escalations and other modifications believed to be under consideration. When asked, neither the UDD nor BDA provided this newspaper a map or sketch explaining the extension of the project till Esteem Mall. <br /><br />On the other hand, the government has not yet decided the date of the groundbreaking ceremony for the project.<br /><br />A spokesperson from L&T told DH two days ago that they too had not got the work orders for the project.<br /><br />Despite repeated attempts, BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri and Minister George refused to speak to DH or disclose any information.<br /><br /><br /> </p>
<p>Facing a barrage of criticism over its decision to construct a steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal, a seemingly perplexed government on Friday increased the length of the structure by an additional 1.6 km from 6.7 km, extending it all the way up to Esteem Mall.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This means the steel flyover will have to be constructed above the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Urban Development Department (UDD) Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain, who is also the chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), however, claimed on Friday that the Cabinet had approved the project between Basaveshwara Circle and Esteem Mall – beyond the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Interestingly, documents released by the government – right from the day the Cabinet briefing was made till Bengaluru Development Minister K J George released the salient features of the project on Wednesday – state that the flyover is only till the starting point of Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />In the Cabinet briefing on September 28, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, too, said the project was till Hebbal flyover. Following severe public criticism, the minister released a link through the BDA website on October 12, which also stated that the project was only till Hebbal.<br /><br />Even the 164-page Detailed Project Report, dated December 8, 2015, posted by BDA at 9 pm on Friday, does not mention that the steel flyover will run till Esteem Mall. It also does not elaborate as to how the flyover will make its way above the Hebbal flyover.<br /><br />Earlier this year, BDA had organised a groundbreaking ceremony to demolish the Nagawara link loop of Hebbal flyover as part of the steel flyover project. Jain, however, said the Hebbal flyover will not be altered while erecting the steel flyover.<br /><br />“Nothing on Hebbal flyover will be demolished. It will remain as it is, while the steel flyover will go above the existing flyover,” he said, adding that the government was still open to suggestions from people and the same would be incorporated in the plan.<br /><br />Decision not final<br />Meanwhile, a BDA official, on the condition of anonymity, said the decision to extend the steel flyover’s length by 1.6 km was not finalised yet. He was, however, quiet on the cost escalations and other modifications believed to be under consideration. When asked, neither the UDD nor BDA provided this newspaper a map or sketch explaining the extension of the project till Esteem Mall. <br /><br />On the other hand, the government has not yet decided the date of the groundbreaking ceremony for the project.<br /><br />A spokesperson from L&T told DH two days ago that they too had not got the work orders for the project.<br /><br />Despite repeated attempts, BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri and Minister George refused to speak to DH or disclose any information.<br /><br /><br /> </p>
