The Electronics City elevated highway just can’t seem to take off.

The Electronics City elevated highway just can’t seem to take off. After missing umpteen deadlines, will it be thrown open to the public in the new year?
BANGALORE MIRROR BUREAU


The city’s longest flyover seems to be suffering from starting hiccups! The Electronics City elevated highway is unlikely to open to traffic this year. According to sources, there are two reasons for the delay. First, though the project appears to be complete, it is as yet incomplete. Second, it is undergoing a series of load tests. It underwent its second load test on Wednesday while a couple of more tests remain to be done.
Although light poles have been erected all along the flyover, they are as yet to receive power supply. Once the pending work is complete, an independent authority monitoring the project has to give its consent. Only then can NHAI throw open the flyover. However, the inauguration may not be an easy affair. As it is a prestigious project, NHAI officials want bigwigs from Delhi to inaugurate the project. As the project was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, NHAI officials are batting for either the PM, UPA chairperson Sonia
Gandhi or Union Surface Transport Minister Kamal Nath to do the honours. So Bangaloreans have no choice but to wait till 2010 before they can cruise on the highway.
UNMET DEADLINES
The nine-kilometre highway has a history of unmet deadlines. The project was earlier scheduled to be completed in July 2008. With numerous issues like site-related problems, the recession, the Maytas effect, the deadline was deferred to March 2009, then to Dasara, next to November, and now it’s been differed to 2010.
BUCK UP, PLEASE!
Meanwhile, industries can’t wait for the project to get started. Biocon’s chairman & managing director Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said, “Absolutely, we are eagerly waiting for it to open. I hope they are not keeping us waiting just because they want a VIP to inaugurate the flyover. But I don’t think that is the reason. I think they are waiting to finish the odds and ends. But, I hope it will be ready by New Year. We have lost enough time as it is.”
Badari, a techie working in Electronics City, said, “Hosur Road flyover looks all set to start but is missing out on the lighting. I thought it would be all lit up a few days before it starts but I don’t see any lights. I don’t know if there is a problem with the bulbs or with the electricity supply.”
Rao, another techie whose office is located on Bommanahalli Road, said, “I have been closely watching the progress of the flyover and have noticed that though it’s almost ready, it has not been put to use still.”
Pankaj, another techie working in Electronics City, said, “It will make a big difference. Do you know when the flyover will start functioning?”


ABSOLUTELY, WE ARE EAGERLY WAITING FOR IT TO OPEN. I HOPE THEY ARE NOT KEEPING US WAITING JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT A VIP TO INAUGURATE THE FLYOVER. BUT I DON’T THINK THAT IS THE REASON. I THINK THEY ARE WAITING TO FINISH THE ODDS AND ENDS
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon