Sirsi Circle flyover in a mess

Sirsi Circle flyover in a mess
Damaged Retention Joints, Rainwater Flooding Pose Danger
Aarthi R | TNN

Bangalore: Travelling on the first flyover of the city which was once marvelled for its engineering capability has become a nightmare these days. The decade-old flyover connecting Silver Jubilee Park Road to Mysore Road via Sirsi Circle is in a shambles today.
The Sirsi Circle flyover, known for its pre-cast segmental technique, which was followed by many other projects, has its expansion joints slowly losing their retention power. Commuters, especially the two-wheeler riders, have to compulsorily apply brakes, thanks to the retention joints that are broken and bent, and caved in at some places with iron jetting out.
The concrete blocks are giving way and are exposing the grids to the vehicular tension, and rainwater gushing down through them is a clear indication of the impending horror if ignored for long.
This 2.8-km stretch supports heavy vehicular traffic. With almost every alternate phase of the Sirsi Circle flyover being held by such widely expanding joints, very little can be said about the long-term commitment of this structure. BBMP acknowledged the bad shape of the flyover and promised repair at the earliest. Commuters tell tales of neglect
Bangalore: Many people who use the Sirsi flyover — which is in a shambles — have regularly expressed concern over its deteriorating condition. During the rains particularly these damaged joints are barely visible. These gaps have worsened the situation even below the flyover, where the road has many waterlogged craters.
With many potholes, stagnant water, dumped garbage and construction wastes, walking on this road is difficult especially for those waiting to board a bus at this point. In addition, the maintenance work on drains, which is going on for the last three months has worsened the easy flow of traffic.
Shop owners in the area are equally worried about the poor lighting and the problem of security it poses. A shop-owner at Jawahar Bazaar attributes the dull lighting at the busy BMTC bus stop here to an increase in the number of pickpockets and petty thefts. The unhygienic conditions further isolate many parts of this platform making it impossible to move freely late in the night.
After throwing open the flyover in 1998 to traffic, the BBMP seem to have done little about its maintenance. The asphalt on several portions of the flyover has also worn out apart from the road on SJ Park being in a deplorable state. One rainfall can result in water logging at both the ends piling up traffic on the flyover.
But BBMP engineer-in-chief Gopalaswamy told TOI that the flyover will be repaired in the next two or three months. The structural component for the expansion joints are mainly imported stretching the supply period to nearly eight weeks for contractors. Tenders have been called for but the joints will be immediately asphalted to provide temporary relief, he said.