JOIN USReady 3 months ago, Allalasandra flyover still off-limits to public
The Allalasandra flyover, built on a railway line close to GKVK on Ballari Road, was ready three months ago but is yet to be opened for traffic. Frustrated motorcyclists have demanded its immediate inauguration.
But not all of them are as patient. Two-wheeler riders have partially opened the barricades put up at its entrance so that they can use the flyover which runs till the Yelahanka New Town police station.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the railways built the flyover with great gusto, as part of a plan to help motorists from Doddaballapur, Yelahanka and other areas. But they seem to have kept it in the cold storage ever since.
Motorists from Doddaballapur and Yelahanka said that travelling to Bengaluru’s interior areas via Ballari Road was becoming difficult for them. For instance, to reach Doddaballapur road, they have to go all the way to Yelahanka Old Town and take a detour. Residents of Yelahanka New Town have to go to Judicial Layout and Yelahanka Old Town to reach Ballari Road.
“The project is meant to reduce traffic jams in Yelahanka Old Town. The flyover has been built with taxpayers’ money and the public has the right to use it the moment it is completed. If it was open, we would have saved 20 minutes of our travelling time,” said V Kannan, a local resident.
Railway crossing
The project was envisaged after the railway crossing was closed down. Work on the flyover started two years ago and it was finished three months ago, according to residents of Yelahanka.
Jagadish Giri, a resident of Yelahanka New Town, said that the flyover would certainly help motorists by reducing their travelling time, but traffic under it could become chaotic.
“The new flyover adjoins Ballari Road. There is another flyover next to it, which connects to the road leading to the airport. With two flyovers open, traffic might peak and more vehicles will be diverted to the airport road.”
Flyover in a week: BBMP
A BBMP official cited the damage to the approach road under the flyover for the delay in opening it.
The project cost Rs 40 crore. The Palike spent Rs 26 crore and the rest was borne by the railways, BBMP Superintendent Engineer (Major Roads) K T Nagaraj told Deccan Herald.
He promised that the pending work would be finished and the flyover opened for traffic within a week.