BDA seeks steel at subsidised rate for Airport Road flyover

Writes to Centre, State and Urban Development Department

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has written to the Centre, State government and Urban Development Department seeking steel at subsidised rate under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) to construct the 6.9-km-long steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal flyover in the City.

“We have requested the State government to pursue the matter with the Centre to provide us steel at a subsidised rate under the JnNURM to construct the flyover. We want the Central government assistance at the earliest to start the project because this is important for providing seamless connectivity to the international airport. The road is also an important VIP movement road,” BDA Commissioner T Sham Bhat told Deccan Herald.

While preparation of the detailed project report is under way, the BDA has estimated that the project would cost 

Rs 1,100 crore to 1,200 crore and it was also mentioned in the State budget of 2014-15. The BDA has estimated that it needs over 55,000 tonnes of steel to construct the flyover. The present market rate of steel ranges between Rs 50,000 - 55,000 per tonne.

“The project cost is likely to escalate and the government does not have so much funds. The flyover will also need maintenance every two years, requiring more money. We also want all these parameters to be incorporated while deciding the cost factor. Hence, we have sought central government assistance. Since it is a first of its kind flyover of such a magnitude in India, we are taking the help of Stup Consultants. The idea of using steel is because construction is quick and also it looks nice. Once work hits the ground, it will be completed in 24 months,” a BDA official added. 

The flyover will be built on the magic box concept, meaning most parts will be constructed in the yards and they will be assembled on site. It will be a six-lane elevated corridor. The height of the flyover will also be increased compared to the existing one. 

It will have the height of a railway crossing. BDA is also aiming to make it a construction technology marvel and a future tourism spot like Howrah Bridge in Kolkata. 

Stup Consultant Private Limited, Director Anbu Thomas Samuel said there are around six to seven small steel flyovers in Kolkata, but this will be the first one of such a large magnitude. 

The detailed project report is getting ready and it will be submitted to the BDA and the State government for implementation. The flyover will be built with state of the art technology and will have anti- crash barriers, he added.