CM announces flyover, NHAI has other ideas

CM announces flyover, NHAI has other ideas
Deccan HErald

Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy’s announcement on Thursday morning that a new flyover would be built at the busy Jalahalli Cross on National Highway 4 is a perfect example of such platitudinous foibles.

When it co-mes to Bangalore’s infrastructure, the truth is certainly queerer than the authorities’ many fictitious promises. Most development plans in Bangalore are ill-planned; some are announced by ministers and officials even before any feasibility study has been conducted.

Chief Minister H D Kumaaraswamy’s announcement on Thursday morning that a new flyover would be built at the busy Jalahalli Cross on National Highway 4 is a perfect example of such platitudinous foibles.

Mr Kumaaraswamy arrived at Jalahalli an hour behind schedule and his discussion with officials last ed 7 minutes. Then the chief minister announced that the Jalahalli Cross would get a multi-level flyover by August 2007 and work on the project would begin by August 15 this year.

Ironically, the stakeholder of the road — the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was totally oblivious to the plan. In fact, NHAI has already drawn up a different plan to ease congestion at Jalahalli Cross.

Cross-purposes

When Deccan Herald contacted NHAI for details of the project announced by the chief minister, an official said, “We are not aware of any flyover project planned by the BMP. We have already come out with a blueprint for an elevated highway project on the same stretch.”

“The Centre has sanctioned Rs 380 crore for the elevated highway, which will flow into a six-lane highway. We will soon call for bids,” a senior NHAI official said.

When pointed out by reporters that the BMP was planning a project on a national highway, BMP officials at the spot said the project site was unique as it is an intersection of a BMP locality (Jalahalli) and a CMC area (Dasarahalli) and runs along the arterial road owned by NHAI.