Commuters seek early completion of road plan

Commuters seek early completion of road plan

Once the 5.7km stretch is finished, they can reach Mysore faster

Bosky Khanna. Bangalore
Commuters are eagerly awaiting the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to complete the construction of Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Magadi Road to Mysore Road via Kengeri as the 5.7km stretch will cut travel distance by 13km.
The ORR project comprises a 4.8km ORR stretch, 34m railway under bridge (RUB) at Nayandanahalli and 630m flyover at Sumanahalli connecting Magadi Road to Tumkur Road. Each project has been vested with a different contractor.
BDA engineers say the 4.8km road length has been completed while the remaining two projects are under way. The RUB at Nayandanahalli will take more time as it is being constructed by the railways. The Sumanahalli flyover will be completed in four months.
Unless the entire stretch is completed, the 5.7km road will not be thrown open for commuters. The project has been undertaken at a cost of Rs92 crore and was scheduled for completion on June 18, 2007.
Divisional railway manager Akhil Agarwal said, ``Since the RUB is being sanctioned and funded by BDA, we have sent the project details, designs and maps to them for verification. Approval has been obtained and the project will start once the tenders are finalised. It will take 10-12 months for completion.''
But BDA Commissioner Siddhaiah assured that the project will be completed by September. ``We have deposited Rs 12 crore with SWR to construct the RUB. It will take us 6 to8 months to construct the missing link of 800 metres connecting the road below the RuB. The work in Summanahalli is nearing completion.''
Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje, during her last visit to Kengeri, had assured commuters and residents that the project would be completed soon, but after three months, work is still under way.
``It has been over two years and the work is still on. With many projects under way on Magadi Road, driving on the stretch has become dangerous,'' said S Lalitha, a commuter.