Bengaluru: As chief minister Siddaramaiah readies to inaugurate the newly built ramp at Hebbal Junction on Monday, congestion at the busy intersection is all set to reduced by 30%. But it comes with a warning: The much-awaited project could create fresh choke points at Mehkri Circle.The 700-metre ramp, integrated with KR Pura loop, is expected to ease traffic flow by allowing motorists coming from Nagawara to bypass signals at the junction. But a recent two-day trial revealed the relief could be short-lived, with the congestion merely shifting downstream to Mehkri Circle. “Opening of the ramp will help vehicles cross Hebbal junction smoothly. However, during the trial run, we observed traffic piling up near the Mehkri Circle underpass, which had a ripple effect on connecting roads,” a senior traffic police officer said. He added widening of the Mehkri Circle service road is urgently needed to prevent bottlenecks.BBMP has already surveyed land belonging to the defence establishment for possible acquisition to widen the stretch. Once expanded, vehicles heading towards RT Nagar, Jayamahal, and Vasanth Nagar could take a free left at Mehkri Circle, easing the pressure.Officials also fear congestion near Baptist Hospital, where traffic from the airport, Nagawara (via the new ramp), and Bhoopasandra will merge. Bus stops in the vicinity may be shifted, but the decision will be taken after monitoring traffic flow for two weeks.Meanwhile, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is preparing for the next phase — linking the ramp with the Tumakuru Road loop. This will involve dismantling two spans of the existing structure, a move expected to cause severe disruption along Ballari Road service roads and Tumakuru Road.While long-term plans include a flyover from Nagawara to Airport Road, a unidirectional underpass towards Nagawara, and even a tunnel road from Hebbal to Veterinary College, traffic police maintain unless the Mehkri Circle stretch is widened first, the new ramp may end up moving the bottleneck rather than solving it.
