Hosur Road expressway again on pause mode

Hosur Road expressway again on pause mode
Elevated flyover likely to be opened only by June-end
SRIDHAR VIVAN & SAMEER RANJAN BAKSHI


You need to wait for two more months before dreaming of zooming in on Hosur Road. The much-awaited Electronics City expressway will now open to traffic only in June-end. Earlier, the project was scheduled for March-end. A senior official said, “We have issued the notification for June, but we think it will drag on. Hopefully, we can see light by June-end.”
The official said, “Besides financial issues, some technical and site-related issues are creating problems. Even the connectivity from Electronics City to Attibele would be completed by June-end.”
Traffic expert M N Sreehari said, “Certainly, the Maytas (Satyam subsidiary) problem has delayed the project. We expected the project to be completed by April-end. However, it is now likely to be delayed further.”
TECHINCALLY UNDONE
The financial issues are said to be due to Raju’s alleged involvement in the Maytas project. Site and technical problems still persist. “Delayed payments and banks’ indifference in funding have been dogging the project,” said a senior official who did not want to be named.
The expressway is part of both Golden Quadrilateral and North-South Corridor.
The decision on subways too has been put in cold storage. After sanctioning four subways on the 9-km stretch, there has been no decision yet on two additional subways, including one in front of Electronics City.
Sreehari said, “Pedestrian movement should be taken into consideration when a road or flyover is constructed. There are only four subways at present. There should be a subway for every kilometre or people will try to cross the busy highway, making them vulnerable to accidents.”
When the expressway comes up, there will be four toll plazas and none of them would be inside Bangalore. Three will be at the entrance of Electronics City (both phase I and II) and one on the road originating from Hosur.
PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Project cost: Rs 7,757 million

• Concession authority: NHAI

• Concession period: 20 years, including construction period