Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) to begin immediate work on the Dommasandra–Varthur road, including clearing debris and laying gravel on available land, after inspecting traffic congestion and infrastructure problems along the corridor.
During the inspection, KRDCL officials raised land acquisition as a requirement for road construction. The minister questioned why acquisition should delay work when space was available on the Varthur lake bund and instructed officials to first use land already accessible for road improvements.
“First remove the debris from the available space and construct the road by laying at least gravel,” Byre Gowda told the officials, according to the report by Prajavani. He also questioned the delay in addressing encroachments between Gunjur and Dommasandra, where several shopkeepers were reported to have occupied more than eight feet of space. The minister asked why authorities had not acted earlier, despite the encroachments worsening traffic problems.
The inspection covered Sarjapur Road, Dommasandra, Gunjur, Varthur, Balagere and surrounding areas. Officials provided updates on roads, drainage, traffic management, land acquisition, electricity infrastructure and other development works. The minister directed departments to provide immediate relief for problems faced by residents while planning infrastructure around future requirements.
Byre Gowda also instructed agencies to coordinate road works with planned major transport projects, including an elevated road and metro-related development. KRDCL, Bengaluru Metro and other departments were told to work together so that one project does not obstruct another and roads do not have to be dug up again for subsequent works.
The directions also included action on electricity infrastructure obstructing roads and traffic. BESCOM transformers and power poles in the affected areas are to be identified and shifted where necessary. Poles that are no longer in use or are obstructing the public are to be inspected and removed if required.
The minister’s intervention places immediate road access, encroachment clearance and coordination between infrastructure agencies at the centre of the response to congestion along the Dommasandra–Varthur corridor. The next steps outlined in the inspection include debris removal, interim road surfacing, identification of obstructing electrical infrastructure and coordination of future road, elevated-road and metro works.
