Bengaluru’s long-delayed Ejipura flyover project is back on track after an interim assessment by experts at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) found that a recently detected crack does not pose a major structural risk. The finding has cleared doubts that had stalled construction activity, offering some respite for a city where mobility challenges remain among the most pressing urban issues.
The 2.5-kilometre flyover, which forms part of the Inner Ring Road and connects Hosur Road with Ejipura, is seen as critical to easing one of Bengaluru’s most congested corridors. Work had been interrupted when damage was spotted during girder launching, sparking concerns over whether the integrity of the structure had been compromised.According to the IISc report, the flaw is a localised “punching failure”, triggered by equipment malfunction during preparatory work rather than by any fundamental weakness in design. The assessment confirmed that the flyover’s reinforcement steel, post-tensioning cables and anchor blocks remain intact. Officials explained that the corrective step would involve removing the damaged portion, strengthening reinforcement, and re-concreting with high-grade non-shrink compound concrete.
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Civic engineers stressed that the clarification is significant, since it rules out the need for costly and time-consuming girder replacement. The agency overseeing construction has indicated that repairs will begin immediately, and work on the remaining span will resume without further delay.The flyover project, expected to be completed by June next year, is part of Bengaluru’s broader push to modernise urban infrastructure and reduce travel time across the technology hub. However, the episode has reignited debate on the quality of project execution and oversight. While technical experts view the incident as minor, citizens point to repeated disruptions in road infrastructure projects as symptomatic of deeper lapses in planning, monitoring, and accountability.
Urban transport analysts argue that flyovers and elevated corridors can only be part of a sustainable solution if executed with stringent safety protocols and long-term maintenance in mind. They highlight that Bengaluru’s infrastructure strategy must also integrate mass transit, green mobility, and stormwater-resilient road systems to build an equitable and climate-ready city.The flyover incident underlines the tension between speed and quality in India’s infrastructure build-out. On the one hand, rapid project delivery is vital to decongest urban bottlenecks; on the other, the risks of cutting corners or overlooking technical rigour can set back public confidence. For now, the IISc report provides reassurance that the Ejipura structure remains safe, but the ultimate test will be whether citizens experience smoother, safer, and more sustainable mobility once the project is complete.
