The Bengaluru Development Authority will restrict construction barricades to about 4.5 metres on the Hebbal–Mekhri route so that two of the existing three lanes on each side, along with the service road, remain open to traffic during construction of a new elevated corridor and tunnel section.
BDA chairman N.A. Harris issued the instruction after inspecting the construction sites near Hebbal and Mekhri Circle. The move is intended to limit congestion on a route that already experiences heavy traffic between the Hebbal flyover and Mekhri Circle.
The 1.74-kilometre elevated corridor is being built from the staff quarters of the University of Agricultural Sciences to Mekhri Circle at an estimated cost of Rs 445.70 crore. Contractors have been given 18 months to complete the project, according to the report by Vijay Karnataka.
Harris said the elevated corridor would create an additional four-lane road for traffic after completion. He also acknowledged that commuters could face inconvenience during the construction period and appealed to the public to cooperate in the interest of the city.
The BDA has clarified that the Hebbal flyover and Ballari Road will not be completely closed for the full 18-month construction period. Instead, traffic restrictions will be imposed in stages wherever required, with route diversions introduced progressively in coordination with Bengaluru traffic police.
Under the traffic-management plan, construction barricades will be limited to the space required for the work. BDA officials said this would affect only one lane, while the remaining two lanes and the service road would continue to be available for vehicles. The arrangement is intended to prevent the project from removing the entire existing road capacity at once.
Officials also said alternative routes would be upgraded before diversions are introduced. Emergency repairs on roads required for the diversion plan will be prioritised with the cooperation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The BDA and Bengaluru traffic police are expected to coordinate the changes in phases as work progresses.
The project is being implemented alongside a planned metro alignment in the area. According to Harris, the metro route will pass below the road for about half a kilometre before returning to the surface and continuing onwards. He said engineers had planned the wider infrastructure works with the city’s long-term requirements in mind.
BDA commissioner Major P. Manivannan, project consultants and engineering officials were present during the inspection. The authority’s immediate focus is to maintain traffic movement while the elevated corridor and associated tunnel works continue, with the project targeted for completion within 18 months.
