Koramangala flyover project moves closer to fruition

The BBMP has moved another step towards building the much-needed 2.4-km-long flyover from the Kendriya Sadan junction to the Ejipura Main Road junction in Koramangala, Southeast Bengaluru.

The civic body has completed soil and pile tests for the Rs 204-crore project. "We conducted soil as well as pile testing to check whether the underneath of the piers holds good or not. The results are positive," K T Nagaraj, chief engineer, road infrastructure (projects central), BBMP, said. Two months ago, workers started laying 75 piers. The progress has been steady, he added.

The flyover will be the longest free expressway in the city after the Sirsi Circle flyover on Mysuru Road. It will provide signal-free connectivity between the Ejipura Main Road-Inner Ring Road junction, the Sony World junction and the Kendriya Sadan junction. Along the way, it will link the Koramangala 8th Main Road junction, Koramangala 60 Feet Road, the Koramangala 5th Block 1A Cross junction and BDA Complex.

The project has been awarded to Simplex Infrastructures with a two-year deadline. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had laid the foundation stone for the project in July 2017.

While there were fears earlier that the flyover would eventually choke both ends - Intermediate Ring Road and Hosur Road - local residents are now happy as the BBMP has incorporated their suggestions and revised the design.

Nitin Sheshadri, former president, Koramangala 3rd Block Residents' Welfare Association, said that while there were multiple choke points before and after the flyover, the expressway would significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve travel time.

He raised another demand from residents for demolishing the underpass near the Ayyappa Temple junction and building a flyover near the Total Mall junction near Madiwala. "We hear the project was approved before the poll dates were announced. The detailed project report (DPR) is under preparation," he said.

Sharanya Prakash, who travels from Koramangala to the HAL junction, expects the flyover to reduce the travel time, but wants the work to be speeded up.