Another unnecessary flyover

South End Circle to have grade separator
This busy junction that connects Bangalore South and the rest of the city will soon see a grade separator.
The Times of India

The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) in its efforts to decongest traffic has proposed yet another flyover, now at the South End Circle, one of the busiest junctions that connects the city and Bangalore South. Estimated at a total cost of around Rs 17 crores, this project will involve an underpass from Sajjan Rao Circle Road towards BHS Road and flyover between Laxman Rao Road and Vijaya College Road.

The BCC's Engineer-inchief, Rame Gowda said: "The Consulting Engineering Services (CES) conducted a feasibility report on behalf of the BCC and the report has laid emphasis on the need for a grade separator here. We have floated a tender in this connection and once it is through, the BCC council and State Government will decide. The time frame for the completion of the project is 12 months from the date of commencement".

He said this junction is one of the most crucial passages into the city for commuters residing in Jayanagar, Banashankari and J P Nagar areas. Traffic snarls are common here as the volume reaches around 16,242 PCU/hour during peak hours. Though South End Circle is a spacious junction that facilitates large traffic movement, heavy traffic has resulted in vehicles pile up. According to an origin and destination survey conducted by the CES, South End Circle is the most commonly-used junction for vehicles entering the city and leaving towards Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road, and Bannerghatta.

The major share of traffic flow during peak hours is along north-south which involves Laxman Rao Road and Vijaya College Road. The traffic flow at these hours is 5,348 PCU/hour, constituting 33 percent of the junction's volume. So, the flyover will be along this axis. "In all probability, we will go in for a three-lane uni-directional flyover along this road with two-lane entry ramps on Laxman Rao Road and Vijaya College Road. The total length of the flyover would be 641 metres with a maximum width of 10 metres", he said.

The estimated cost of construction is Rs 13.93 crores, miscellaneous costs including land acquisition are estimated at Rs 3.98 crores and the cost of shifting utility lines is estimated at Rs 49.6 lakhs. Rame Gowda added that after the completion of the flyover the annual savings on fuel is estimated to be Rs 4.58 crores in the first year.

On ensuring smooth traffic movement he said the construction of the flyover will be on for a year so the entire portion of the grade separator would be barricaded and only 50 metres length near the junction will be kept open. Construction activity of the super structure at the obligatory span will be carried out during nights and a minimum clearance of five metres will be ensured.