After having been bottlenecks on busy roads for long, two flyovers on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which are a part of signal-free corridor project, and the long-delayed Tagore Circle underpass in Basavanagudi were officially opened to the public on Saturday.
Big relief
Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the Rs. 37.65-crore Kalyannagar flyover and the Rs. 36.28-crore Veerannapalya flyover, both constructed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Much to the relief of Basavanagudi residents, the Rs. 28-crore Tagore Circle underpass, commissioned by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in October 2009 for completion within 16 months, was also inaugurated.
The 237.5-metre Veerannapalya flyover allows seamless travel on the ORR near Manyata Tech Park, while the 149-m Kalyannagar flyover obviates the signal at the Hennur Main Road junction. The 378.39-m Tagore Circle underpass connects motorists going from K.R. Market towards Jayanagar, J.P. Nagar, Banashankari, Sarakki and Kanakapura Road.
Signal-free corridor
The slew of inaugurations was a continuation of his promise to tour the city twice a week, inspecting infrastructure works taken up by the BDA and the BBMP. “In two years, we shall start seeing signal-free corridors in the city,” he said.
He said the BBMP had allotted Rs. 426 crore for five signal-free road projects, while Rs. 1,527 crore had been earmarked for 26 flyovers and grade separators in the city. “Of these, while eight have been opened, 11 are under construction, and work on seven will start when the tender process is done,” Mr. Gowda said.
Drinking water
With the State — that includes the city — reeling under drinking water shortage, Mr. Gowda said Rs. 100 crore had been released to provide water to parched areas. “This is apart from the Rs. 50 crore released to the BBMP and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to provide drinking water,” he said.
