Bengaluru’s Peenya Flyover Opens After Load Test But Hebbal Flyover Expansion Delays Remain

The traffic congestion at the northwest entrance of Bengaluru city is expected to improve starting today, July 29, as the 4.2-km Peenya flyover along Tumakuru Road opened for heavy vehicles after two years and seven months.

However, ongoing delays in the expansion of the Hebbal flyover are worsening traffic issues in the northern parts of the city. Police have issued an advisory for airport users to leave their homes early to avoid delays.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth announced on Thursday, "From Monday, all kinds of vehicles are allowed to ply on the Peenya elevated flyover. As special repair work is in progress on the flyover, every Friday from 6 am to Saturday at 6 am, heavy motor vehicle movement is restricted on the flyover. Heavy motor vehicles are to move on the left lane, and the speed limit of 40 km/hour is enforced on the flyover." This makes the Peenya flyover unique in the country, as it will be open to heavy traffic six days a week.

On February 16, 2022, a notification prohibited heavy vehicles from using both sides of the road from the Kennametal factory to the SRS Down Ramp, allowing only light vehicles and restricting all vehicles from 12 AM to 5 AM. In response to public requests and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, the new decision allows heavy vehicles to use the flyover on days other than Fridays, following the completion of maintenance work on the Peenya-Nelamangala flyover.

The traffic police have reported that the current situation on the road is worsening. The influx of thousands of vehicles from various districts, such as Hassan, Tumakuru, Davanagere, and Mangaluru, during peak hours has further contributed to the chaos. The absence of an alternative route has exacerbated the problem, as all vehicles are forced to use the same road.

The NHAI conducted a load test on the Peenya flyover. "The NHAI initiated a load test recently to evaluate the strength of the prestressed cables on the Peenya flyover. As part of the test, eight trucks, each carrying 32 tonnes, were driven on the flyover continuously for over 48 hours." Over the past year, around 240 prestressed cables were replaced across 120 pillars. The Peenya flyover, one of the city's longest, features 120 piers and a total of 1,200 cables, with 10 cables running between each pair of pillars.

Hebbal Flyover Delays Worsen Traffic

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)'s Hebbal flyover expansion project has been causing inconvenience to the public, even after a year since its commencement. Road excavation has caused significant issues for commuters, including relocating bus stops. Passengers heading to the Majestic and Market areas now must disembark near Baptist Hospital and walk, causing considerable inconvenience.

Road excavation has caused frequent cable cuts, disrupting the power supply in several Hebbal areas. Complaints have been met with responses indicating the issues are due to flyover work and require repair. This problem has persisted for the past three to four months, exacerbated by deteriorating road conditions. The road from Hebbal flyover to Nagenahalli road, which used to flood during rains and develop large potholes, remains unrepaired.

The Hebbal Junction witnesses the movement of an average of 2.67 lakh vehicles passing through per day. The expansion project has been taken up at a cost of ₹350 crore. The project involves the construction of a three-lane flyover from the international airport road to Bengaluru and a three-lane underpass on the Yeshwanthpur-KR Puram route. Officials have stated that there is no delay in the work and it is progressing rapidly.