The alternative road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which was opened last Monday ahead of Aero India 2017, will be kept open by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) in the coming days. The road, which provides an easier route for those travelling from the eastern parts of the city to KIA, shortens travel time by helping them avoid traffic bottlenecks at Hebbal and Mekhri Circle. Providing a toll-free and traffic-free passage to KIA, the road was used by approximately 20,000 vehicles each day since it was opened, the traffic police said.
However, work on the road is yet to be completed on a 1.8-km stretch from Begur to the airport as well as another 1.3-km stretch within KIA premises.
“We allowed vehicles to use the road on Sunday and will not stop vehicles from Monday onwards. We will ask the Public Works Department to work on one lane while allowing vehicles to ply on the alternate lane,” said R. Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
Completion of work on the road is likely to take another six months, according to M. Lakshminarayana, Principal Secretary, PWD. “We have to carry out asphalting work, lighting, electricity connections, and several other pending works before the road can be completed. The road inside the airport premises also needs to be completed by the Bangalore International Airport Ltd. authorities. It will take five to six months,” said Mr. Lakshminarayana.
However, if the proposal by the traffic police is accepted, completion of the work could take one month longer. “PWD can work on roads with plying traffic. Some plans will have to be reworked and it might take up to one month more if we have to work on alternate lanes. It is the choice of the traffic police,” Mr. Lakshminarayana added.
