BANGALORE: Bangalore is all set to get 15 additional flyovers, in a move aimed at decongesting traffic in the city.
At present, there are close to 30 flyovers in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, most constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy told Express that he has directed BBMP officials to conduct a survey on traffic movement in the city. “We will take up 15 projects on a priority basis, but are yet to decide on the locations,” he said. The flyovers will be built by BBMP, BDA and other agencies.
Reddy said they are yet to decide on funding. “It could either be through the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNurm) or a loan. We are not keen on a private public partnership (PPP) model as private investors will then want to charge toll,” he said. On the project’s execution, Reddy said it could take five to six months to get approval. “It will then take another two to three years to complete construction. But we are keen on completing it within this term.”
A BBMP official said they have received instructions on the project. “We are discussing its feasibility,” he said.
‘Not the Solution’
Experts, however, feel constructing flyovers will not resolve congestion woes.
Traffic expert M N Sreehari said the width of a road needs to be at least 30 to 33 metres, including the footpath, if a flyover needs to be constructed on it.
“In Bangalore, 60 per cent of roads are narrow with a width of 12 to 18 metres. Without widening roads, flyovers cannot be constructed. Another criteria to construct a flyover is that it must witness the movement of at least 10,000 passenger cars per hour,” he said.
Urban expert Vivek Menon said flyovers should not come up on arterial roads as it would only add to the chaos. “The plan should focus on the concept of ‘origin-destination’. At several places, only one-way traffic is allowed. While returning in the same direction, one has to use other roads. Arterial roads have not even been classified yet. This must be looked into,” Menon said.