Bengaluru: While the city has been led to believe that the controversial steel flyover will cost Rs 1,791 crore, in actual fact, the government will spend over Rs 2,000 crore on the project.
In addition, the steel bridge which was supposed to end at Hebbal flyover starting from Chalukya Circle covering 6.7km will now be extended further by 1.6 km and end near Esteem Mall on Bellary Road.
An amount of Rs 267.31 crore is needed to build a kilometer of the steel bridge. If it is further extended by 1.6 km, the project cost will go up by Rs 427.70 crore, making the total cost stand at Rs 2,218.70 crore.
P. N. Nayak, BDA engineer member confirmed to Deccan Chronicle that "the flyover will not end at Hebbal flyover but at Esteem Mall," where three major luxury apartments are nearing completion.
Asked whether work orders of Rs 98 crores were issued, Mr. Nayak confirmed that no work orders were issued till Oct 24. On whether a foundation laying stone ceremony was slotted for the project on November 1 (Kannada Rajyotsava), Mr Nayak said "Government has to take a call on it. If it asks, we have to do so."
Experts: Minor solutions for major crisis possible!
Not Rs 267 crore per kilometer, but a mere Rs 200 crore could solve the traffic mayhem on Ballari Road, say mobility experts and urban planning experts. Among various suggestions that have come the government’s way, although none heard, some of the doable solutions include widening the Windsor Manor underpass and widening Palace Grounds Road on Ballari Road.
Sanjeev of Praja, says, “Since the Ballari Road traffic chaos is not the worst bottleneck in the city and it’s been know for long, many experts have suggested the government that should widen Windsor Manor Underpass to 8-lane up to Cauvery Junction. Also, it should complete road widening of Ballari Road at Palace Grounds and expand the Hebbal Flyover, as per the proposal. Also, railway under bridge and railway over bridge at MES Road, Jakkur and Kodigehalli should be completed to decongest the Ballari Road.”
