ELEVATED ROAD TO BIA IN THE MAKING

ELEVATED ROAD TO BIA IN THE MAKING
It will help motorists reach the Devanahalli airport in just 20 minutes
Sridhar.Vivan @timesgroup.com


Asignal-free corridor comprising a stretch of elevated expressway, four underpasses and two flyovers at a cost of Rs 600 crore will be built connecting Hebbal flyover to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), the development work on which has commenced a couple of weeks ago.
The construction work for the NHAI-led project will start in end October. Once the corridor is ready in a couple of years, it will make it easier and quicker to travel to the airport.
This connectivity to the airport will have a toll fee. NHAI project director R K Gupta said, “Currently, soil testing is on. The project has been awarded to Navayuga Constructions. If all goes well, the project will kickstart by October-November.”
As per the project plan, the 3.2 km stretch from the Hebbal flyover to the beginning of Yelahanka bypass (near GKVK) will be an elevated stretch. From the Yelahanka bypass to the trumpet inter-change (the gateway to BIA), all the major junctions will be made signal-free. To this end, two flyovers will come up at the Kogilu Cross and Vidyanagar junctions, while four underpasses will come up at other crucial junctions.
Officials said the Rs 600-crore project has a 24-month deadline and will allow motorists to reach the airport within 15-20 minutes from Hebbal, as against 45 minutes now. Notably, it will be the first six-lane elevated highway corridor in the city. Currently, Bangalore has two elevated corridors — the Electronics City expressway and the Tumkur Road expressway — both of which are four-lane. The airport expressway will be built on a single pier. NHAI officials said, “Sixlane flyovers are constructed on two piers. However, with improved technology, we are set to construct it on a single pier. The advantage is it takes up less space.”
The project was announced by then Union minister of state for surface transport K H Muniyappa a few years ago. However, due to recession and other issues, it has been a delayed starter. With the airport having only a road link as yet (work is yet to start on the highspeed rail link), the Hyderabad NH-7 is over-utilised.
SIGNAL-FREE CORRIDOR
» Work to begin by Oct-end/November » First six-lane highway to be built on a single pier » Signal-free corridor from Hebbal to BIA » Tolled road