Hebbal flyover to be ready in 18 months

By Govind D.Belgaumkar

BANGALORE, SEP. 1. The proposed Rs. 43-crore Hebbal flyover, work on which is expected to begin in a week, will be ready in 18 months.

The Mumbai-based Gammon India Limited, which was the lowest bidder for the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA's) project, has been given the letter of intent. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, is likely to lay the foundation stone for the work on September 8.

According to Mr. K.G.Karnik, Engineer-Officer, BDA, the company has been asked to complete the main portion of the bridge -- that will provide for movement of main traffic on the existing national highway -- in 12 months. The remaining works on the ``loops'' is likely to be completed in the next six months. The company is expected to finalise its schedule, indicating the milestones to be achieved from time to time in completing the work and soon submit it to the BDA. An agreement is likely to be signed between the BDA and the firm thereafter.

The main bridge will have five arms (described by the BDA as loops) and the firm has been asked to start work on construction of these loops along with the construction of the main bridge, that will lift up the traffic on the National Highway.

The firm has been asked to use a rotary drilling machine, which can dig the earth for three piles a day for early completion of the work.

Mr. Karnik said the work had been awarded to Gammon India Limited for Rs. 43 crores. In addition to this, the BDA would spend about Rs. 5 crores on land acquisition and shifting of the utility lines. While it would deposit Rs. 70 lakhs with the BWSSB for shifting its lines, the BDA had decided to shift the electric lines on its own at a cost of Rs. 1.1 crores. About 10 per cent of it would go to the KPTCL towards supervision cost.

He told The Hindu that the land acquisition was not a problem for the proposed flyover as final notice had been served on the Karnataka Seeds Corporation, part of whose land had to be acquired. Besides, much of the land required for the flyover project had been acquired by the National Highways Authority of India for widening the road. ``We have a ready cake,'' Mr. Karnik added.

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