Bengaluru: In a fresh push to decongest one of north Bengaluru’s busiest traffic corridors, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has floated separate tenders for two major infrastructure projects on Ballari Road, between Hebbal and Mehkri Circle — a short tunnel and an elevated corridor.According to BDA officials, tenders have been issued for a 1.2-km, two-lane, bi-directional elevated corridor from the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) staff quarters to Mehkri Circle, estimated to cost close to Rs 403.3 crore. A separate tender has been floated for a 2.2-km short tunnel connecting Hebbal to the veterinary college, with an estimated cost of Rs 1,240 crore.
The projects are designed as an integrated traffic solution for motorists travelling from Kempegowda International Airport side towards Mehkri Circle. Vehicles exiting the proposed short tunnel will get seamless access to the elevated corridor, allowing them to bypass congested surface roads.The elevated corridor will feature rotary up and down ramps at Mehkri Circle, providing connectivity to Jayamahal Road and CV Raman Road towards Yeshwanthpur. Officials said there is also a future plan to link this corridor with the proposed east-west elevated road connecting KR Pura and Yeshwanthpur.The short tunnel will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method, with three lanes on either side, while existing overpasses between UAS staff quarters and Mehkri Circle will be retained. Motorists heading towards the Cauvery Theatre side will continue to use the existing underpass.BDA officials said the tenders were floated after traffic congestion eased at Hebbal following the construction of an additional ramp, but worsened at Mehkri Circle. Meanwhile, B-SMILE has also floated tenders for the 17-km tunnel road project from Hebbal to Central Silk Board, with bids currently under scrutiny.InsetHebbal flyover ramp to open todayThis new year, commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as the new ramp built by BDA at the Hebbal flyover junction is all set to open. The 1.25-km ramp was integrated with two older loops and will be inaugurated by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. Officials claim the new ramp will help reduce traffic congestion by 30 per cent.The new ramp enables motorists coming from the Nagawara side, the Esteem Mall service road, and Tumakuru Road via the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to reach Mehkri Circle more smoothly.Although the project was proposed 10 years ago, its completion was delayed due to multiple factors like procedural and on-ground challenges, said the officials.
