Bengaluru: Amid mounting criticism over traffic restrictions announced on the busy Ballari Road in the run-up to the Deepavali festive rush, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Saturday said only one lane on either side of the stretch will be barricaded for construction of the ambitious elevated corridor project. The remaining two lanes, along with service roads, will remain open to traffic moving towards Kempegowda International Airport.The clarification comes after traffic police faced public fury over announcing traffic restrictions on one of the city’s busiest arterial roads without first ensuring that alternative routes leading to and from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are ready to absorb extra traffic load.The Times of India, in the report titled “No Escape: Alternative Roads Are In The Pits” published Saturday, had explained how alternative routes, including New BEL Road, Nagawara Road and RT Nagar Station Road, could lead to severe congestion without any improvement in the condition of carriageways.Responding to the concerns, BDA chairperson NA Haris and commissioner P Manivannan, along with joint commissioner (traffic) Karthik Reddy and other police officers, conducted an inspection of the project corridor Saturday. They reviewed traffic conditions at Mehkri Circle and adjoining stretches.Clarifying the extent of the proposed restrictions, Haris said construction activity will require barricading only one lane, measuring approximately 4.5m, on either side of the road. “Both sides of the road have three lanes each. Only one lane will be barricaded for construction. The remaining two lanes, along with the service road, will continue to be available for vehicular movement,” he said.He directed officials and consultants to identify congestion-prone points and implement corrective measures to ensure smoother traffic movement during construction. He also stressed the need for better coordination between construction teams, traffic police and other agencies to minimise inconvenience to commuters.“This project will be an invaluable asset to Bengaluru. Once completed in 18 months, an additional four-lane road will be available on this critical corridor, substantially easing traffic congestion. However, some public inconvenience during construction is inevitable. I urge citizens to cooperate and make necessary adjustments in the larger interest of the city,” Haris said.Acknowledging the need to strengthen alternative routes, Haris said commuters could use New BEL Road and RT Nagar Station Road to avoid congestion on the project stretch. BDA has requested Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to expedite pending road repairs and make these connecting corridors motorable at the earliest. Reddy said: “Additional personnel will also be deployed near construction sites and on alternative routes to regulate traffic.”The project involves the construction of a four-lane elevated corridor from UAS staff quarters to Mehkri Circle, alongside the proposed Hebbal tunnel works. The elevated corridor, estimated to cost Rs 445.7 crore, will cover 1.7km and is targeted for completion in 18 months.Designed to ease congestion at Mekhri Circle, one of Bengaluru’s major traffic bottlenecks, the elevated structure will be supported by around 49 pillars and feature an elevated rotary junction. Two down-ramps are planned — one towards Yeshwantpur via CV Raman Road and another towards Jayamahal Road.Two more signals to regulate trafficConstruction of the elevated corridor will require the demolition of two vehicular overpasses on the main carriageways. Their removal is expected to affect traffic flow not only on Ballari Road, but also on roads connecting nearby localities. Officials said two traffic signals will be installed after the overpasses are dismantled. Construction will then be taken up along the median while traffic continues on either side.Widen road near Mehkri Circle: CopsDuring the inspection, traffic police stressed the need to widen the road near Mehkri Circle to ease the existing bottleneck. The proposal requires the acquisition of 1.2 acres of defence land, an issue that has been pending for several years. Widening the existing road will help improve traffic flow towards both Jayamahal Road and Yeshwantpur. Haris said efforts are under way to secure the land from defence authorities. Chief minister D K Shivakumar had also taken up the matter with the defence ministry in the past, seeking its cooperation. Officials said Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC) had agreed to part with its land, while discussions were under way with Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) to secure the remaining land.Will BDA stick to 18-month deadline?On whether the elevated corridor could be completed within the stipulated 18 months, given BDA’s track record of delays in executing projects, Haris expressed confidence that the deadline will be met. “This will be a new road infrastructure facility for Bengaluru, aimed at easing congestion between Esteem Mall and Mehkri Circle. Construction will have an impact on traffic, but measures will be taken to minimise inconvenience to commuters. We are not banning public transport (including BMTC/KSRTC and private buses) or private vehicles on this road, only goods vehicles will be diverted,” he said.
About The Author
