Wheeler Road flyover is finally ready

Wheeler Road flyover is finally ready

Staff Reporter
It is awaiting approval for formal inauguration

BANGALORE: Soon motorists commuting between northern parts of Bangalore around Banaswadi and the city centre daily need not wait for their turn to pass through the choked underpass opposite Frazer Town police station. For, the long delayed construction of Wheeler Road flyover is ready to be thrown open to traffic.

The 750-metre flyover project executed by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Southern Railways is awaiting approval from the authorities concerned for formal inauguration.

People of Fraser Town, Cox Town and Cooke’s Town, who are among the worst hit owing to the delay in the completion of the flyover project, are understandably relieved over the completion of work. “But why has it still not been opened to motorists even a month after its completion?, wondered Shabbir of Coles Road in Fraser Town.

BBMP officials are hopeful that the flyover will be inaugurated in the next 15 days. But, no date has been fixed for the formal inauguration of the flyover yet. “This flyover construction has been going on for long that I can’t believe it is actually finished now,” said an irked shopkeeper Kishore Manjappa.

Work on the flyover was launched in 2004 at a cost of Rs. 16.4 crore. Though the deadline for executing the project was three years, work was delayed by more than two years, causing inconvenience to the people.

People of the area are also upset that no pedestrian crossing has been constructed to cross the railway line that runs underneath the flyover. “The railway line is hazardous for pedestrians since there is no pedestrian crossing. Cyclists have a tough time lifting their cycles over the tracks to cross them every day,” Mr. Manjappa said.

BBMP officials have found it difficult to make the service road underneath the flyover motorable. For, utility lines of BWSSB and BESCOM run no less than 8 inches below the ground. Personnel from the utilities are now trying to shift the cables and pipes.

Madan Gopal, secretary, Bangalore East Swabhiman Trust, said: “Traffic is choked during peak hours. Once the flyover is opened for traffic, congestion will ease on all other connected roads. The authorities in charge never foresee the problems that may come up before starting a project. This is why there are always numerous reasons for delay. They now say that it should be opened for use in about 15 days.”