BCC plans underpass at Malleswaram

BCC plans underpass at Malleswaram
The project here is set to take off soon and will help decongest traffic in the locality
The Times of India

The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) in its new budget has planned an underpass at the Malleswaram Circle on the lines of the Mekhri Circle grade separator at a cost of Rs 14 crores to decongest traffic in the locality. The project is a part of the West Corridor development programme envisaged by the authority.

Malleswaram, one of the oldest residential areas of Bangalore, has over the years developed as one of the commercial hubs of the city. From small shops to wholesale markets, from top educational institutions to MNC banks, you name it and the area has it. The result is high traffic volumes moving at a snail's pace in peak hours.

One of the main circles where all the major roads of this locality meet is the Malleswaram Circle, others being Malleswaram 18th Cross, Central, 8th Cross and Sampige junction.

BCC's Engineer-in-chief Rame Gowda said: "Malleswaram Circle is one of the busiest junctions in the area with a typical fourlegged intersection with Sampige Road on the north and south side of the junction, MKK Road on the west and Link Road on the east. The underpass will start at the foot of KC General Hospital and Malleswaram Grounds".

Tenders have been finalised and soon work order for the project will be given. We will have a meeting with the authorities concerned for a comprehensive traffic management programme to be implemented during the construction of the flyover since the project requires around 14 months to be completed, he added.

The traffic volume here is 7,800 PCU/hour during peak hours with queuing of vehicles being 150 metres due to prolonged congestion. This has forced the peak hour flows over several hours and thus it is a constant state almost throughout the day. With the travel speed through the day being 15 kmph and pedestrian flow during peak hours being 1,950, it is imperative to build a grade separator here.

The project

As part of the phase one work, a private consultancy firm has carried out a study, prepared a detailed project report and has also conducted geo-technical investigations for the project. The grade separator will cost around Rs 14 crores including shifting of utilities, cost of land acquisition and miscellaneous expenses. While the underpass will start at the K C General Hospital it will emerge out at the Pioneer India Business on MKK Road with the total length of the underpass being 180 metres. The existing Sampige Road will act as the bridge above the underpass and will be widened. Along with the grade separator, the pavements on the either sides of the roads will be widened and redone with interlocking cobble blocks.