Kadirenahalli underpass to be opened in 20 days

After an inspection by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner, Siddaiah on Monday, it was decided to open the facility, at least one way, in the next 20 days.

The Puttenahalli underpass, at the centre of controversy over its repeated problems, is likely to be opened by the end of this month.

At Kadirenahalli, the route from Uttarahalli main road towards Padmanabhanagar and Jayanagar will be opened for vehicular movement easing the chaos and confusion at the junction. “We have decided to open the underpass atleast one way to ease the congestion along the stretch,” said a BBMP official. Currently, the curing process in underpass is nearing completion, he added.

The Kadirenahalli underpass has been in the spotlight due to the blockade it had caused to people living in the vicinity and also for commuters making their way into the City. The project, estimated at Rs 28.72 crore, had begun in March 2008, with a deadline of 10 months. However, due to delay in land acquisition by the BBMP, the project was stalled for nearly an year. The underpass is expected to be 356 meters long and 16.5 meters wide.

Stung by the severe criticism over the delay in the completion of the Puttenahalli underpass the BBMP is set to open the underpass by the month-end. “With the penalty of Rs 80 lakh imposed by BBMP, the contractors have put on fast pace the completion of the project and is all set to be unveiled in next 20-25 days,” Palike officials said.

SWD wall collapse

This apart, the inspection on Monday took the BBMP Commissioner to the Chennammankere tank bed, where a storm water drain retaining wall had collapsed towards the inside.

Built almost 25 years ago, the retaining wall had weakened over the years and had collapsed on Sunday.

During the inspection drive, it was also noticed that another 25 feet of the same wall was on the verge of collapse.