Toll road linking Devanahalli to Bangalore suggested

Toll road linking Devanahalli to Bangalore suggested

The Hindu

Experts' panel is learnt to have taken a positive view of the proposal

BANGALORE: Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's recent announcement that the Rs. 1,300-crore Bangalore International Airport project would be open for traffic in 2008 was greeted with a huge sigh of relief by Bangaloreans. Once the first phase of the airport becomes operational, how long will it take to reach Devanahalli from the heart of the city is the next big question.

The existing Bellary road from Bangalore to Devanahalli and beyond is being converted into a six-lane passage. Work is progressing in stretches. But traffic experts have now questioned the efficiency of a road that is bound to have several crossings before it reaches the international airport.

Other option

An alternative option could be an access-controlled tollway with toll-free service roads, complete with grade separators and sub-ways.

The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises Limited (NICE), the agency implementing the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project has in fact, proposed a high-speed, dedicated elevated toll road linking the airport to the heart of the city. A monorail could be run on the central median.

This way, the Government could duplicate the BMIC model on the north side of the city, with adequate connection to the peripheral ring road.

In its proposal to the plan to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), NICE suggested that the toll collected could be utilised for maintenance.

The Independent Review Committee of BDA's Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) is learnt to have taken a positive view of the proposal.

For the BMIC project, the original plans had been modified for the central median on the peripheral road to have a monorail.

If approved, the monorail could also be a high-speed link to the international airport, a NICE official said.

Under the existing plan for the 34 km distance between Bangalore (Vidhana Soudha) and the airport at Devanahalli, the National Highways 6 and 7 are being converted into a six-lane road.

The National Highway Authority has acquired the required land. Additional access roads, running into Bellary road, are being planned.

The existing roads through Hoskote and Hebbal will be upgraded to a four-lane expressway, which will meet the airport road.

Also on the agenda are underbridges to be built at all railway crossing on Bellary road.

Besides, the Railways have also planned a special shuttle ser vice from the Cantonment railway station to the airport.

The international airport project is promoted by the L&T led consortium, including Siemens, Zurich Airport, Airport Authority of India and the Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation.