Airport Express Highway not viable

Airport Express Highway not viable
Sunday March 2 2008 08:25 IST

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BANGALORE: The proposed access controlled Express Highway in its present alignment from Outer Ring Road at Banaswadi/Chellakere to Devanahalli airport is not viable, said Cherian of the Expressway Association.

“Many Bangaloreans from different walks to life have opposed this project and prefer to use the Bellary Road (NH-7) to commute to the airport at Devanahalli. This route will be the shortest and least time consuming,” he said.

He was speaking at an interactive session on `Land acquisition in North Bangalore for infrastructure development', organised by the CIVIC Bangalore and North Bangalore Citizen's Association (NBCA) here on Saturday.

Cherian said that in order to use the Express Highway in its present alignment, airport users who reach Hebbal from the city will have to turn right eastwards and travel about 11 km on busy Ring Road to reach the starting point of proposed Express Highway.

And thence through the toll payment process and travel a further 21 km on the Express Highway to reach airport. This is absurd, he pointed out.

The organisations highlighted the problems caused by unscientific city roads and heavy traffic.

Studies conducted by several organisations have shown that these are the reasons why it takes two to three hours to reach Mekhri Circle or Hebbal Junction from the city and just 30 to 35 minutes from Mekhri Circle and 25 minutes from Hebbal to Devanahalli airport.

The organisations suggested using Bellary Road (NH-7) from Devanahalli airport to the city centre.

According to Lalita Chandrashekhar of Peripheral Ring Road Association, one need not be overwhelmed by the upcoming airport.

To strengthen the existing roads, elevated roads are in the pipeline and a rail link is on the anvil. These will go a long way in solving the problem of connectivity to the airport, she said.

“But a major problem will be the displacement of thousands of residents and farmers living in these areas. Compensation paid to them will not be enough to help them relocate anywhere in the vicinity. In other words, they will have to make way for the rich and powerful,” she said.