DELAYED DEBUT FOR TUMKUR ROAD PROJECT

DELAYED DEBUT FOR TUMKUR ROAD PROJECT
The ambitious project, which comprises elevated highway as well as a six-lane road, will be completed only in March 2010 against its deadline of November this year
SRIDHAR VIVAN


The Tumkur Road project is the latest addition to the list of unmet deadlines in Bangalore. The project, which was to have been completed by November-end, will not be complete before March 2010. A test drive conducted by Bangalore Mirror revealed only 73 per cent of the work has been completed so far.
15-MINUTE DRIVE
As this road links two-thirds of Karnataka and is a gateway to western India, it is one of the densest highways, with 1.2 lakh passenger car units traversing it every day. Out of the 19.5-km stretch, 4.3 km will be a four-lane elevated highway and the rest a six-lane highway, besides twolane service roads on either side.
Upon completion of the project, motorists can drive between Nelamangala and Goraguntepalya (Ring Road junction) in 15 minutes as against over an hour now.
PROJECT REPORT
Out of the 119 piers, 112 have been completed. The work on spans has been completed between Kennametal and Shell petrol bunk. Though service roads have been almost completed, small stretches near Arasinakunte and Binnamangala have yet to be completed. The project also includes a flyover at the Nelamangala-Kunigal road junction and six grade separators - Chikkabidarakal, Madavara, Adakimaranahalli, Dasanapura, Arasinakunte and Sondekoppa Road.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials said these works will be completed before December and the elevated highways by March next year.
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS
With the elevated highway work approaching Hesaraghatta Cross, a portion of the old highway will be barricaded and motorists have to use only service roads.
The police now expect traffic jams on a narrower stretch between Hesaraghatta Cross and Jalahalli Cross. An NHAI official said, “We have requested traffic police to ban movement of heavy trucks on this road till elevated highway is completed. We have suggested that trucks moving towards Hosur Road use NICE Road and those heading towards Hyderabad road can move towards Dobbespet.
“Top police officials inspected the area last week and said alternative arrangements will be in place before August,” he said.
RING ROAD
The elevated highways may offer smooth transport of vehicles to the city but they are expected to hit a bottleneck at the Ring Road junctions. As traffic jams will be encountered at the Silk Board junction, Goraguntepalya junction will be a bigger bottleneck for the Tumkur Road project. The NHAI project concludes just before the Ring Road junction. As passing vehicles have toencounter two traffic signals there, it may turn out to be a nightmare.
PROJECT STATUS Date of agreement: May 9, 2007 Construction period: 24 months Commencement date: Nov 2, 2007 Scheduled to be completed on: Nov 2, 2009 Revised date for completion: March 2010 Estimated project cost: Rs 718.59 crore Project length: 19.50 km No of pedestrian underpasses: 14 Number of vehicle overpasses: 6 No of toll plazas: 6 Elevated highway length: 4.5 km No of piers: 120