Work on the additional loop to the Hebbal flyover must be completed by April 30 and will be opened for the public in May 2025, said Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
Underpass on ORR
Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday after inspecting the flyover along with heads of multiple civic agencies, Mr. Shivakumar said that the government has approved an underpass on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) from Goranguntepalya towards K. R. Puram below the Hebbal flyover. “Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and Indian Railways have to work together on the project. The additional loop to Hebbal flyover and the underpass will ease traffic at this junction,” he said.
He also inspected other traffic bottlenecks, including Goraguntepalya, Sumanahalli, and Nayandahalli junctions, and said, “We have discussed certain solutions to ease congestion at these junctions, which include tunnel roads, underpasses, and flyovers. I wanted to conduct a spot inspection myself,” he said, adding that the agencies have been asked to revamp the lighting in the city.
Elevated double deckers
He further said that all further metro stretches will be planned as elevated double-deckers – a road and a metro line – and the costs will be shared by BMRCL and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) equally. “The city is expanding and needs more infrastructure. But building new roads or expanding existing roads is a herculean task, as the cost of land acquisition is very huge, making it unviable,” Mr. Shivakumar said.
He further said advertisements will be allowed on metro pillars under the new ad policy that will be brought in soon and BBMP and BMRCL will share the ad revenue equally, as the pillar is built by BMRCL and the place is owned by BBMP.
When quizzed over proposed revision of metro fares, Mr. Sivakumar said that the state government had no role in fixing metro fares and an autonomous committee will decide on the fare revision.
Water tariff revision
Meanwhile, the minister said that Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had submitted a proposal for a tariff hike and a final decision will be taken after discussing the same in the cabinet. “It has been nearly 14 years since the water tariff was revised in the city. BWSSB is suffering a loss of nearly ₹1000 crore every year and a tariff revision is the need of the hour,” he said, refusing to disclose what is the proposed hike.
Published – February 06, 2025 07:11 pm IST