Work begins on instant underpass in Bangalore

Work begins on instant underpass in Bangalore
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore January 17, 2008
In an effort to improve the road connectivity to the new Bangalore International Airport, which is set to become operational on March 28, work on widening the Sankey Road, T Chowdaiah Road and Bellary Road between High Grounds and Hebbal flyover, was launched on Wednesday.

The road improvement works include widening the existing roads into an eight-lane dual carriageway and constructing underpasses at seven junctions to ensure a hassle-free ride.

The first of the underpasses is being constructed at the intersection of T Chowdaiah Road and Sankey Road in front of Cauvery theatre.

The Greater Bangalore City Corporation (GBCC), in-charge of the road improvement works, has promised to complete the underpass work in three days.

“The underpass is being built using pre-cast concrete structures. During the three days of construction, the vehicular traffic will be diverted. The road will be thrown open for traffic on the fourth day. The shifting of utilities (underground power cables and water pipes) is in progress,” GBCC engineers working on the project, said.

The other underpasses will be located at Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) office junction and in front of the ITC Windsor Hotel on T Chowdaiah Road, Sanjaynagar junction and CBI office junction on Bellary Road, Hebbal junction and Hebbal police station junction.

The GBCC intends to complete work on all the seven underpasses before March 28, paving the way for the smooth movement of traffic.

The widening of the road was initiated after President’s Rule was imposed on the state. The State Executive Committee headed by Governor Rameshwar Thakur had rapped both the GBCC and the BDA for not ensuring connectivity to the new airport. The journey time between the city and the new airport presently takes well over an hour to cover close to 36 km.

The governor announced a series of measures, including a high speed rail link between the airport and the city. The state also handed over the development of an exclusive 21 km access controlled expressway from the city to the airport.

However, both projects require more than two years to become operational. Therefore, the governor directed the GBCC to widen the existing access road to the new airport on a priority basis.