31-km stretch of ORR to be signal-free by 2011

31-km stretch of ORR to be signal-free by 2011
Bangalore, DH News Service:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The construction of seven more flyovers and an underpass on the 31-km stretch of the Outer Ring Road - from Hebbal Flyover to the Central Silk Board - will begin on June 26, to facilitate signal-free travel on the stretch.


The foundation stones for the infrastructure projects will be laid by Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.

The total cost of these projects is Rs 240.03 crore, according to sources at the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

On the agenda is a flyover at HSR Layout, at a cost of Rs 24.56 crore; another on 14th Main of HSR Layout (Rs 36.56 crore); a third flyover at Bellandur (Rs 39.96 crore); a fourth at Devarabeesanahalli junction (Rs 39.8 crore); another at Kalyananagara Junction (Rs 33.93 crore), besides the Hennur flyover and underpass (Rs 54.76 crore) and the Veerannapalya Junction flyover (Rs 37.02 crore).

These projects will have to be completed in 18 months, and BDA authorities promise to strictly monitor the work to get it done by the stipulated time. There have been complaints aplenty about chaotic traffic on this stretch, leading to frequent jams.
The government approved these projects taking into consideration the regular problem faced by the commuters.

Four flyovers have already been constructed at Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ramamurthy Nagar and Marathahalli Junctions. The BBMP is undertaking works at Banaswadi and Nagawara.

Although the Outer Ring Road was designed to decongest the city traffic, the mounting vehicular traffic eventually led to chaos on this road as well. The intersections were bound to trigger more trouble and the road planners apparently overlooked this.
In the recent past, four flyovers have already been constructed at Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ramamurthy Nagar and Marathahalli Junctions. The BBMP is undertaking works at Banaswadi and Nagawara.

The only obstacles right now, to developing a signal-free vehicular movement from Hebbal Flyover to Central Silk Board are the two junctions at Mahadevapura and Kadabeesanahalli.

The reason: the contract has not been allotted. Recently, the BDA had called for tenders for flyovers at these two junctions, but the bidders demanded prices that were considered too high. The BDA has decided to float tenders afresh for these two junctions.

Projects cleared

In a step towards helping ease traffic congestion, the BBMP on Tuesday cleared two under-pass projects, for the smooth flow of traffic towards Majestic.

BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena on Tuesday discussed the problems of commuters from Rajajinagar and Magadi Road, with the engineering section of the BBMP.
The Commissioner approved an underpass near Okalipuram Junction, and a junction on Magadi Road. The cost of these two projects is Rs 40 crore, said BBMP Chief Engineer Chikkarayappa.