Work on flyover at Wheeler Road begins

Work on flyover at Wheeler Road begins

The Hindu

When completed, the project will help an estimated 35,000 motorists every day

# The project is funded by South Western Railway and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
# The level crossing will be closed 40 times a day at regular intervals



Bangalore: It may have taken off after almost a five-year delay, but the flyover at Wheeler Road railway crossing near the old ITC factory and Gymkhana Grounds will help an estimated 25,000 to 35, 000 motorists every day, who now have to stop at the level crossing during peak hours.

The 750-metre-long bridge, 7.5 metres above the railway tracks at the highest point, is estimated to cost Rs. 15 crore and is being funded jointly by the South Western Railway and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. The cost of shifting utility cables and pipes would be an additional expenditure, which was being worked out.

The Wheeler Road level crossing had to be closed for varied periods 40 times during the day at almost regular intervals. Trains towards the north and to Chennai have to pass through this section. It is also the main route for vehicles going and coming from Lingarajapuram, Kalyan Nagar, Banaswadi, Maruthi Seva Nagar, Kothanur and surrounding areas.

The rapid growth of new suburbs in this northeastern part of the city was not anticipated by planners. The main roads here now have to meet the needs of traffic to places like HRBR, HBR and OMBR Layouts and residential colonies coming up in and around Krishnarajapuram. All these areas are getting heavily populated. Until the Peripheral Ring Road comes up, those living there will have to use roads well within the city to reach their workplaces and return home.

Back in 2001, the civic body and railway authorities were known to have planned for several new railway bridges, the total package costing around Rs. 30 crore. Costs have escalated since then. Besides the overbridge at Wheeler Road, those at Fraser Town and Madhavanagar were to be widened. Part of the work is in progress.