Latest bid to ease traffic: roads to go over drains

Latest bid to ease traffic: roads to go over drains
Bangalore: If the BBMP’s plans move on course, commuters from Double Road could reach Koramangala — a distance of 5.1 km — in 10 minutes. The BBMP is working towards making this — and similar rides — possible by chalking out a plan to build roads over drains.
Four drains over which roads can be constructed have been identified to reduce the distance and traffic congestion, covering 14.7 km. The project will be taken up in the Swiss Challenge Method.
The primary drains identified are at least seven metres wide, enough to accommodate a two-carriageway road — KH Road to Intermediate Ring Road, Koramangala (5.1 km); Old Madras Road to Airport Road over Challaghatta Valley (2.7 km); Airport Road to Bellandur Tank over Challaghatta Valley (4.2 km) and Outer Ring Road to Raja Canal STP over Hebbal Valley (2.7 km). These stretches will be toll roads.
Subhash Projects Marketing Ltd (SPML) will prepare the detailed project report (DPR), which will be submitted in two months, said BBMP officials. “Roads over drains serve two purposes — decongesting roads and preventing reckless dumping into drains, choking them during the monsoon. Besides improving aesthetics of the city, mosquito breeding will be checked,” officials explained.
The drains will be strengthened with reinforcement and retaining walls before roads are laid. Priority will be given to smooth stormwater flow.
This apart, junctions and intersections over drains need to be strengthened, and issues pertaining to traffic and stormwater flow addressed.
Tenders will be invited based on the Swiss Challenge Method after the DPR is evaluated. Based on the success of this project, other drains will be identified.
Since the project is executed under Swiss Challenge Method, the cost is yet to be estimated. Toll charges and the return period will be arrived at based on financial and technical feasibility studies.
The BBMP has been conducting a survey on the drains over which roads can be constructed. The survey will also identify encroachment upon drains. Eviction of encroachments will provide at least two carriageways on the drains, said sources.