3-year delay in bridge work adds to Bengaluru's daily traffic woes

Bengaluru,: It takes close to half an hour just to cover less than a one-kilometre stretch near Varthur Kodi in Muthasandra. While one side of the bridge is ready, work on the second bridge — heading towards the Varthur police station — has been abandoned for the past three years. At times, motorists have even run out of fuel as traffic on the Varthur–Gunjur Road becomes unimaginably worse during office hours.

The delay, despite the urgency of easing traffic on the road, persists even after Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh inspected the stretch about five months ago. The stretch is a critical link between numerous office spaces and high-rise residential buildings.

“I end up using this road in the evening as there are no alternative routes to reach my home. The stretch between the gas station and the police station turns into a parking lot almost daily. Yet people like me continue to use it because Balagere Road is worse than this,” said Mithun Gangadhar, a local resident.

About three years ago, the now-dissolved BBMP had completed one side of the bridge, but the other portion remains unfinished. In the past, the civic body reportedly floated two tenders, but no bidders came forward.

Estimated to cost about Rs 20 crore, the Palike floated the tenders again after Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh inspected the Varthur–Gunjur Road in April 2025 and issued instructions to complete all pending projects. A senior BBMP official said they have completed all the tender formalities and it is now awaiting government approval.

While the bridge could help ease congestion to some extent, residents have been helplessly waiting for the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) to complete the flyover and widen the road. KRDCL is yet to complete the acquisition of properties, even though engineers have started minor civic works along the stretch.

Clement Jayakumar, a member of the Mahadevapura Task Force, said the government must provide a comprehensive approach to the issues faced by people in the Varthur, Gunjur, and Sarjapur areas. “Just a small bridge project has been pending for two and a half years. The East Airport Corridor has been delayed. There is no effort to ensure full completion of the 150-foot-wide road linking Varthur Road and the Outer Ring Road,” he said.