The much-awaited alternative road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and the long-pending Hennur flyover were “inaugurated” by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday. But this is hardly good news for city residents as both the projects are still incomplete.
Commuters may have to wait for at least 10 days before using the alternative road to the KIA through Hennur Main Road and Thanisandra Main Road. “There are some minor works such as fixing of lights to be completed from both the Public Works Department’s and the BIAL’s end. They will be completed in a week or so, after which we will open the road for commuters,” said M. Lakshminarayana, Additional Chief Secretary, PWD.
But there is more. The back entrance of the KIA at Begur is yet to be opened. In addition, the 3-km-long road from Mylanahalli to the back entrance of the KIA, which has been asphalted, is not 100 ft wide as promised, but only 30 ft.
“There were land acquisition issues to widen the road. We have now paid compensation to all landowners and will soon get possession of the land. We will open the 30-ft road for traffic and simultaneously widen the road,” said Mr. Lakshminarayana. He however, did not give a time frame for completing the road widening.
‘Will add to chaos’
People fear that the new road, instead of easing traffic, will only add to chaos. Urban commute expert Sanjeev V. Dyamannanavar said, “Once the road is opened, most of the traffic from east and southeast Bengaluru will be diverted to this road, and a 3-km-long, 30-ft-wide two-way road will only lead to a long pile-up of vehicles, taking longer for them to reach the KIA or exit the road, especially during peak hours. It is sad that despite taking almost one and a half years, the PWD has done such work,” he said.
Hennur flyover
Hennur flyover was inaugurated on Sunday.
Hennur flyover, work on which was stuck since 2011 owing to land acquisition issues, was thrown open to the public on Sunday. Though vehicles were allowed, the safety scaffolding for the flyover is yet to be removed. The work on putting up a median and street lights is still on. A temple is yet to be shifted to clear the access for the service road next to the flyover. BDA officials said shifting would be done “at the earliest”.
The work on the up and down ramps of the flyover, which is in Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George’s Sarvagnanagar constituency, was stuck owing to land acquisition issues.
