Relief For Bengaluru Commuters: Okalipuram Junction's 8-Lane Signal-Free Corridor Ready For Inauguration

Commuters in Bengaluru may soon find some relief from the city's traffic congestion, as the eight-lane signal-free corridor at Okalipuram Junction is set to be inaugurated in the coming days. Constructed by the city's civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the corridor has been built at a cost of Rs 102 crore.

Additionally, the BBMP has paid Rs 156 crore to the Railway Department for acquiring the land necessary for the project. The civic body has also installed four concrete boxes under the Tumakuru-Bengaluru railway line. While three boxes have been installed under the Chennai-Bengaluru railway line, the installation of the fourth box is underway. With the underpasses at the Tumakuru-Bengaluru railway line now open, commuters can access the KSR Railway station from both its front and back entrances.

An official noted that the construction work and box installation for the underbridge at the Chennai-Bengaluru railway line in Okalipuram presented challenges due to the corridor's high traffic volume compared to other tracks. Consequently, construction activities were restricted to the late-night hours, between 12:30 am and 4 am. The Railway Department also contributed around Rs 80 crore towards the construction of the Chennai-Bengaluru and Tumakuru-Bengaluru underbridges.

The BBMP has been receiving complaints about severe traffic congestion in areas around Majestic, particularly from Malleswaram and Rajajinagar towards Majestic railway station, for several years. In response to these complaints, the decision to construct the eight-lane signal-free corridor was made in 2013, although construction only began in July 2015.

"A flyover was also constructed by the BBMP to connect the entry and exit points of the old railway station, and the signal-free route has significantly helped commuters reach the station on time, even during peak hours," added a senior BBMP engineer.