City roads to go underground?

City roads to go underground?

Express News ServiceFirst Published : 11 May 2010 06:14:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 11 May 2010 08:50:35 AM IST
BANGALORE: In an effort to decongest Bangalore’s narrow roads, the state government is thinking on the lines of constructing underground roads at places where road widening is too cumbersome and costly.
Transport Minister R Ashok on Monday said widening of roads such as Avenue Road and those at Majestic were next to impossible as too many properties will have to be demolished.
The government is planning to go underground by constructing tunnels, he said.
He refused to divulge more details on the plan stating that it was still in a nascent stage. He said going underground was more cost effective than building overbridges and under bridges. “Building an overbridge will cost around Rs 40 to 50 crore,” he said.
The government has also decided to upgrade five major roads in the city. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which is interested to take up the job, has been asked to identify the roads.
On the earlier plan of making 10 roads signal-free, the minister said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had already floated tenders for five roads and the remaining five roads would be handed over to the BDA.