BENGALURU: Although the state government dropped its plan of constructing a steel flyover from Basaveshwara circle to Hebbal, they managed to give a thumbs up to a smaller version of it near Shivananda Circle. And interestingly, work for this particular steel bridge is already on the roll. In fact, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials were seen conducting soil testing at Shivananda Circle on Tuesday.
Although the project was first proposed by BBMP in 2011 to ease the traffic density on Race Course Road, Kumara Krupa Road and Seshadripuram Road, it is taking shape only now.
The tender has been awarded to M Venkatarao Infra Structure Company which is currently doing the soil testing. It will be a four-lane bridge and will pass through Race Course Road, Hare Krishna Road and Seshadripuram Road railway under bridge. Further, the bridge will be 16m wide and 310m long.
Approximately 26 trees will have to be chopped along the route to make way for the project. The project is estimated to cost `19.85 crore. Considering the land acquisition and utility costs, the cost is likely to go up.
Urban expert and architect Naresh V Narasimhan said, “We have been informed that the government is re-tendering the steel flyover project from Basaveshwara circle to Hebbal. This just shows that they have no consideration for the wishes of their people. Till now we do not have a proper plan for the city. All we hear is announcements of projects in isolation without due processes.”