Several motorists who followed the signboards directing them through the new alternative road connecting east Bengaluru to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Sunday were left disappointed. They were asked to turn around as soon as they touched Begur, and told that the road would be thrown open to traffic only on Monday.
The Bengaluru traffic police had announced that the road would be inaugurated on Sunday, ahead of the Aero India show that begins on Tuesday to ease traffic on Ballari Road. However, the situation at ground zero was different. Contrary to claims of a six-lane alternative road to the KIA being opened for traffic, the road is still a narrow kachcha road meandering through agricultural land in Baglur, Sathanur, Mylanahalli, and Begur.
Work was still being carried out on the kachcha road on Sunday evening, but Public Works Department (PWD) officials said the road would be thrown open to traffic by Monday.
However, motorists were not amused with the delay. M. Vaidi, a cab driver, said: “I saw the signboard at Baglur about the route to the airport. I wanted to take it, but the road was not good. If laid properly, it can prove as a good alternative,” he said.
March deadline
In October 2016, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had visited Mylanahalli, Begur and other villages through which the road was supposed to be developed and set a deadline of March 2017 for completion of works. The proposed six-lane through Hennur Cross Road and Thanisandra Main Road meet at Bagalur, from where an alternative road is being built to access KIA from Begur. M. Lakshminarayana, Principal Secretary, PWD, said work was under way and the road was being thrown open only to provide an alternative access during Aero India.
“From Begur, the nearly 1,800-metre stretch leads to the airport. Of this, the 450-metre from Begur to BIAL compound wall is being worked on by the PWD. The remaining 1,300-odd-metre is being taken up by BIAL,” said a PWD official overseeing the work on Sunday evening. The KIA compound wall was opened at Begur-end, providing access on Thursday. Also, while the proposed road is 100 ft-wide six-lane, the road opened now is only 50 ft-wide.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R. Hitendra said traffic policemen would be posted along the route from Monday to guide commuters to KIA. “It is a temporary measure to ease traffic on Ballari Road. We hope the road work is completed soon,” he said.
Police estimate that traffic pressure will be reduced on Ballari Road by over 35%, as commuters from east and southeast Bengaluru can reach KIA without taking the Ballari Road.
