Bengaluru traffic: Govt to spend Rs 9,200 crore

Belagavi: There may be protests galore over proposed flyovers in Bengaluru as a solution to its traffic problems, but it appears that at least 30 new flyovers/underpasses could be built across the city under a mega Rs 9,200 crore plan by the state government to ease traffic congestion.

The move comes ahead of the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the coalition government reportedly trying to curry favour with the urban voter.  “Bengaluru is now the prime focus of the government after it addressed rural distress by waiving off farmers' loan. With the elections approaching it looks like the government is focusing on urban voters too," said a senior official.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy held a meeting with the officials concerned here on Tuesday and directed them to prepare a detailed plan to tackle Bengaluru's traffic and garbage problems, the twin sore points with its people, sources revealed.

The Rs 9,200 crore outlay for the mega plan, which could see at least 30 flyovers/underpasses built across Bengaluru, could be approved at the next cabinet meeting, they added. “The plan will be executed in  24 to 30 months. The idea is to get rid of bottlenecks at traffic junctions across the city on the lines of Chennai and Delhi, which have many small flyovers and underpasses to deal with them. Bengaluru too could go in for a similar solution,” said an officer.