Express highway to airport is unviable’

Express highway to airport is unviable’

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Terming the proposed access-controlled express highway to the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli as “unviable” in its present alignment, the Bangalore Airport Users’ Association has come out with alternative measures to improve connectivity to the new airport.

In a statement, the association said that 80 per cent of the users of new airport, including officials and dignitaries, would be using Bellary Road via Hebbal flyover as it is the shortest possible route from the city centre.

The association also claimed that it would not be techno-economically justifiable to acquire 700 acres of land required for the express highway at a cost of Rs. 2,100 crore and then spending an additional Rs. 900 crore to build the express highway.

Only 20 per cent of the airport users, mainly from Sarjapur Road and Old Madras Road, will have an easy access to the present alignment for the proposed expressway from Outer Ring Road (ORR) near Banaswadi whereas people from all other areas need to travel a long distance to reach the starting point of the express highway.

Moreover, the ORR has been witnessing traffic jams at various intersections. The association claimed that it would take more time on ORR for vehicle users before they reached the starting point of the proposed express highway.

The association suggested the following alternatives to improve connectivity to the new airport.

Widen Bellary Road on National Highway 7 section with maximum road efficiency with flyovers and elevated roads besides widening arterial roads within the city.

Do not allow crossing and parking of vehicles on Bellary Road and other arterial roads from the city centre to Devanahalli