Road widening project to ease KIA commute

KRDCL will widen four roads at a cost of ₹2,095 crore

Apart from these four roads, work is under way on another road that goes to KIA via Thanisandra.

In a move certain to bring cheer to frequent fliers as well as residents of the city, the State cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to widen four major roads within Bengaluru which will link to the Kempegowda International Airport. These roads will be upgraded by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) at a cost of ₹2,095 crore and are expected to ease traffic congestion within the city as well.

The single-lane roads selected for double-laning are the Hoskote-Budigere-Mylanahalli-Devanahalli-Kempegowda International Airport road, Nelamangala-Madhure-Byatha Road, Anekal-Attibele-Sarjapur-Varthur-Whitefield-Hoskote road and the Harohalli-Uruganadoddi-KIADB industrial area-Jigani-Anekal road.

Relief for Hebbal Junction and Mehkri Circle

Making the announcement after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said that these roads, once widened, will ease congestion on Ballari Road, which sees major snarls near Hebbal Junction and Mehkri Circle. “This will also help to address congestion in and around Bengaluru,” he said.

The roads will enable commuters avoid the tollway near the airport where users pay ₹125 for a return trip.

Alternative roads to the airport has been a major demand of residents in the eastern suburbs, including Whitefield and ITPL, who currently have to travel through the Outer Ring Road and Hebbal junction to reach the toll road to KIA.

In February this year, another alternative road connecting to Mylanahalli via Begur had been temporarily thrown open to traffic during the Aero India show. It enabled people from the eastern suburbs to travel to KIA without having to go through the toll road. It was closed after the show as the Public Works Department had sought a few more months to complete pending works. In-between, work was stalled for a month due to shifting of utility lines, including a line of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL).

Total length of roads to be upgraded: 150 km

Road | Length | Cost

1: Hoskote-Budigere-Mylenahalli-Devanahalli-KIA road | 22km | ₹420 crore

2: Nelamangala-Madhure-Byatha road | 43.5km | ₹505 crore

3: Anekal-Attibele-Sarjapur-Vartur-Whitefield-Hoskote road | 47.5km | ₹625 crore

4: Harohalli-Uruganadoddi-KIADB Industrial Area-Jigani-Anekal road | 42km | ₹545 crore