RailEnquiry

BANGALORE: Perhaps nothing can beat this grandiose plan by the Bangalore Development Authority. The BDA has proposed a six-lane bi-directional flyover from Le Meridien to Cauvery junction, all the way up to CBI junction on Bellary Road.Nothing very wrong, except that the BDA's proposal means the elevated flyover will have to be constructed over and above the Windsor Manor rail line bridge and two other flyovers en route! It will have to scythe through the cityscape at least 8m above the Windsor Manor bridge, according to railway norms - which means it will stand 12.6m off the ground and be a rather elevated flyover.Last week, the BDA floated a tender to construct a six-lane bi-directional flyover at a cost of Rs 210 crore, from Le Meridien to beyond Cauvery junction, and another one from the Air Force main gate to beyond Cauvery junction, passing Sanjaynagar and the CBI junction on Bellary Road.The proposed six-lane flyover will overshadow the existing Windsor Manor railway bridge and the flyover before the BDA headquarters, thus creating a three-tier carriageway.What appears incongruous is that the proposed 2.5km flyover is said to be planned to alleviate the congestion at Cauvery junction and Mehkri Circle junction. It's not only dangerous and not feasible, but is also bound to create chaos for commuters.Abide member RK Misra said the project will connect the proposed signal-free corridor from Hosur Road to Bellary Road on NH-4. "The budgeted project of the elevated highway from Hosur Road to Bellary Road includes the stretch from Le Meridien to CBI junction. But because the freshly tendered projects of BDA were those approved by the government long ago, the BDA can go ahead with these projects," said Misra.In reality, the motorway upgrade will only add to confusion on this stretch, that already has an underpass on Palace Road, carrying traffic from northern parts of the city to the central business district.

While BDA commissioner Bharatlal Meena said he would speak on the issue on Sunday, engineer member on the BDA board T N Chikkarayappa chose not to take any calls from TOI.

BDA has so far not contacted South Western Railways about the proposed project, though the flyover will go over the Windsor Manor railway track and bridge.

"We have no clue about the project. Technically speaking, the project can be made feasible only if it travels over and above the railway track. It should be a minimum of 8.14 metres above the railway track, meaning 12.6 metres above ground level," said Haribabu V, senior divisional engineer, South Western Railways.