The Electronics City flyover is almost ready. Here’s everything that you need to know about it

The Electronics City flyover is almost ready. Here’s everything that you need to know about it
SRIDHAR VIVAN


Picture this: Just 12 minutes from Bommanahalli to Electronics City and 25 minutes from Bommanahalli to Hosur. This may seem like a dream for thousands of commuters travelling on the busy Hosur Road everyday, but it will soon become reality. The Bangalore Mirror team was the first to drive on the ‘nearly completed’ elevated highway, the 9 km Electronics City flyover.
ELECTRONICS CITY
As ours was the only vehicle on the flyover, we decided to drive at 40 kmph. We climbed the approach ramp from Bommanahalli side at 12.21 pm. By 12.23 pm we were at Sasken building and reached the other end of the flyover by 12.33 pm. The flyover offers a hassle-free drive. A car driven at 100 kmph could traverse the flyover in just six minutes. The Electronics City flyover is the longest in the city and offers a smooth drive for those using Hosur Road to get to Electronics City. Hosur Road has the densest traffic in the city as it forms both the golden quadrilateral (connecting Bangalore and Chennai) and North-South corridor (connecting Kanyakumari).
Currently, a final layer of bitumin is being laid. This will be followed by a black topping. After this, the site engineers have to work on expanding joints besides taking up electrification and completing crash barriers, kerb painting and plantation.
The second phase is also expected to be ready along with the flyover. Of the three flyovers, one at Bommasandra is ready, while the Chandapura and Attibele flyovers need another two months for completion.
WILL OPEN IN NOV
You need to wait till November before driving on the elevated highway.
The project was
earlier scheduled to be open this week. A National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official said, “We now expect the project to open in November first week. However, ground realities may push it to the middle of November.” The project was conceived in September 2004 while the ground work started in July 2006. It was supposed to be completed in July 2008. Initially, it was escalating costs of cement and steel that delayed the project, followed by recession and the Maytas scam. Now, incessant rainfall is playing spoilsport, according to officials.
RS 776 CR PROJECT
The elevated road project is constructed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. According to the Bangalore Elevated Tollway Limited (BETL) website, the Rs 775.7 crore project is being executed through special purpose vehicle BETL, created by the joint venture partners involving Maytas Infra, Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) and Soma
Enterprises (SEL).
SILK BOARD
BOTTLENECK
Flyovers are always criticised as not a viable alternative as they are said to shift traffic from one junction to another. There are similar fears being expressed about the Hosur flyover as the Silk Board flyover could turn out to be a bottleneck. Traffic experts say that the vehicles can move smoothly from Hosur to Central Silk Board junction but may pile up thereafter as there are no free turns at the grade separator. They suggest clover leaf or semi clover leaf models for clearing traffic at Central Silk Board.
PENDING WORKS
Though the project is set for completion by this year end, techies have to wait for some more time before taking a free turn from Electronics City phase one and two. Another flyover which was to give a free turn between two phases is still in the limbo. The loop work has been halted over a court case.
RAIL UNDER BRIDGE
The railway under bridge for service roads near Chandapura (Salem Railway line) has been temporarily halted. An official said, “We are yet to get railways’ permission for the work. Hence, service roads are not being completed at that stretch.”
ADDITIONAL RAMP
The NHAI is planning to have an additional up and down ramp near HP gate. Land acquisition is already in progress. Apart from this, one more pedestrian subway is to come up at Electronics City.
FOOT OVERBRIDGE
Sometime back, a school boy was run over at Tirumagondahalli Gate. Now, a foot overbridge is set to be constructed at the spot for easier movement of pedestrians.
Vehicles using elevated highway to Electronics City have to pay the toll while it is free in the existing surface road. However, vehicles crossing the Attibele toll plaza (near Tamil Nadu Border) have to pay the toll.
FACILITIES ON FLYOVER
Highway Traffic Management System (HTMS) 5 CCTVs to cover the entire stretch of highway Electronic toll collection Emergency call box Meteorological details
PROPOSED TOLL
AT ATTIBELE
2-wheeler: Free Autorickshaw: Free Car: Rs 20 LCV: Rs 30 Bus/Truck: Rs 50 HCV: Rs 105 (Toll to be collected near Attibele border)
PROPOSED TOLL ELECTRONICS CITY
2-wheeler: Rs 15 Autorickshaw: No entry Car: Rs 30 LCV: Rs 40 Bus/Truck: Rs 70 HCV: Rs 140 (Toll to be collected at end of Electronics City) (The exact toll rates at Attibele and Electronics City will be finalised before the inauguration)
LONGEST FLYOVERS
IN INDIA