Bengaluru’s Double-Decker Flyover Used As Running Track as HSR-Ragigudda Ramps Remains Closed

Bengaluru's first double-decker flyover, South India's pioneering structure, is close to being fully opened to traffic, with officials targeting late December 2025 or early 2026 for completion. Stretching over 5.5 kilometres, the elevated corridor connects BTM Layout, Ragigudda, HSR Layout and Electronics City, providing motorists with a continuous route across the notoriously congested Silk Board Junction.

The Rs 449 crore flyover was designed to ease traffic in one of the city's busiest stretches. While parts of it are already operational, allowing vehicles from Ragigudda to bypass the junction, the section from HSR Layout and Electronics City towards Ragigudda remains closed. This has led locals to make unusual use of the structure, jogging and walking along the ready but restricted roadway. Residents have described the flyover as a "high-tech running track," questioning why a public infrastructure project ready for months has yet to open fully.

A key feature of the project is a new down ramp connecting HSR Layout directly to BTM Layout and Ragigudda. This ramp will allow vehicles to stay on the elevated road and exit directly towards these neighbourhoods, avoiding the busy ground-level junction. Partial openings have already helped improve traffic flow on the Ragigudda to Silk Board side, but traffic from HSR Layout towards Silk Board remains heavy, while congestion from BTM Layout has reduced. Authorities expect the full opening to provide balanced relief and shorter travel times along the Outer Ring Road corridor.

Construction has faced multiple delays. The HSR to BTM ramp was initially planned for completion in September 2025, but work was slowed by heavy traffic around the site, limited night-time construction hours, design changes and technical challenges. Engineers also revised the original plan for the section turning towards Electronics City, replacing a prestressed concrete girder with a 42-metre steel girder to improve the turning radius and ensure safety. Officials say this adjustment will help meet the revised completion schedule.

Even when the flyover is fully opened, traffic signals at Silk Board Junction will remain. Certain vehicle movements from Bommanahalli, Madiwala and parts of HSR Layout still need to pass through the ground-level intersection. While the elevated corridor will reduce waiting times for many motorists, drivers will still need to follow signals and maintain lane discipline.

The Yellow Line Metro near Silk Board has highlighted pedestrian challenges. Commuters report poor walkways, waterlogged stretches and clogged drains, making access to BMTC bus stops difficult and unsafe, especially during the rains. Many commuters are forced to walk on carriageways or cross busy roads without proper crossings, reducing the effectiveness of improved public transport.

BMRCL officials have confirmed that 90 percent of the flyover is complete and expect full operation by the end of January 2026. Once operational, the elevated road will improve travel across HSR Layout and Parappana Agrahara, with the new ramps allowing smoother movement across the corridor. Residents emphasise, however, that upgrades to footpaths, drainage and pedestrian crossings near the Metro station are essential to make commuting safe and convenient for all.

The Bengaluru double-decker flyover thus represents both the promise of modern infrastructure and the challenges posed by construction delays. For now, while motorists enjoy partial relief and locals use it as a jogging track, the city awaits the day when Silk Board Junction finally sees full traffic decongestion.