BENGALURU: Brushing aside its bitter experience in pushing for a steel flyover between Chalukya Circle and Hebbal Flyover, the state government has decided to hit the fast track in implementing the much-delayed steel flyover project at Shivananda Circle.
The project, conceived in 2011, has now been dusted and the state cabinet on Wednesday gave administrative approval for a revision of tender amount to Rs 19.85 crore incorporating an escalation in estimate of 35.9%, sources said.
Much before the controversial Hebbal steel flyover project, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had proposed steel flyovers on JC Road and at Shivananda Circle to ease traffic congestion in the heart of the city.
26 trees to be removed
As many as 26 trees will be removed to pave way for the construction of the steel flyover at Shivananda Circle. The project is expected to bring down the traffic drastically.
BBMP Chief Engineer (Major roads) told Express that they have identified 1,500.36 square metre land for the construction of the flyover.
The steel flyover/grade separator will have a four-lane bridge, will be bidirectional and will be 310 metres long and 16 metres wide. It will connect motorists from Race Course Road towards Harekrishna Road and also connect Sheshadripuram Railway underbridge.
He said, “We need land for the construction of the flyover and service road on either side, for which we might take the footpath area. We have identified 26 trees to be removed.”
Shivananda Circle is part of the Central Business District area which witnesses a lot of traffic. This junction connects the central part of the city with the east part.
“This junction sees thousands of cars every hour and the traffic is mostly slow. Also, Krishna, the Chief Minister’s official residence, is on Kumara Krupa Road, which is less than half a kilometre from Shivananda Circle. The place is a mess due to frequent VIP movement. There is a need to ease traffic at this junction and steel grade separator is the solution,” a source said.
“The total estimate is around Rs 50 crore, including Rs 19 crore for the project and the remaining for land acquisition, utility shifting and other expenses,” an official said.