Only one lane on each side of Bengaluru’s Ballari Road will be barricaded for construction of a four-lane elevated corridor, allowing the remaining two lanes and service roads to stay open towards Kempegowda International Airport, the Bangalore Development Authority said.
The clarification follows criticism of traffic restrictions announced on the busy airport corridor ahead of the Deepavali festive rush. Commuters and traffic officials had raised concerns that alternative routes were not ready to absorb additional traffic, particularly around New BEL Road, Nagawara Road and RT Nagar Station Road.
BDA chairperson NA Haris, commissioner P Manivannan, joint commissioner (traffic) Karthik Reddy and other officials inspected the project corridor and reviewed traffic conditions at Mehkri Circle and adjoining stretches. Haris said construction would require barricading a single lane measuring approximately 4.5 metres on either side of the road.
“Both sides of the road have three lanes each. Only one lane will be barricaded for construction. The remaining two lanes, along with the service road, will continue to be available for vehicular movement,” Haris said.
The project will run from the University of Agricultural Sciences staff quarters to Mehkri Circle alongside the proposed Hebbal tunnel works. The elevated corridor is estimated to cost Rs 445.7 crore, cover 1.7km and take 18 months to complete. It is intended to ease congestion at Mehkri Circle, a major bottleneck on the route between the city and the airport.
The structure will be supported by around 49 pillars and include an elevated rotary junction. Two down-ramps are planned, one connecting towards Yeshwantpur through CV Raman Road and another towards Jayamahal Road.
Construction will require the demolition of two vehicular overpasses on the main carriageways. Officials said the removal could affect traffic not only on Ballari Road but also on roads connecting nearby neighbourhoods. Two additional traffic signals will be installed after the overpasses are dismantled, after which construction will proceed along the median while traffic continues on both sides.
Traffic police have also proposed widening the road near Mehkri Circle to address an existing bottleneck affecting movement towards Jayamahal Road and Yeshwantpur. The proposal requires the acquisition of 1.2 acres of defence land, an issue that has remained pending for several years.
Haris said efforts were under way to secure the land from defence authorities. Officials said the Parachute Regiment Training Centre had agreed to part with its land, while discussions were continuing with the Directorate General of Quality Assurance for the remaining parcel.
BDA has asked the Greater Bengaluru Authority to expedite pending repairs on alternative roads and make the connecting corridors motorable. Reddy said additional personnel would be deployed near construction sites and on alternative routes to regulate traffic.
Haris said public transport, including BMTC, KSRTC and private buses, would not be banned from Ballari Road during the work. Goods vehicles, however, will be diverted. The BDA has maintained that the elevated corridor will be completed within the stipulated 18-month period, with traffic management measures introduced to limit disruption during construction.
