Bengaluru Yelahanka Flyover: Worth The Wait Or Just Another Traffic Bottleneck?

Residents of Yelahanka are frustrated with the construction of a 1.8 km flyover on Doddaballapur Road, which has been underway for over two years. The project, which was initially expected to be completed in 18 months, is now expected to be finished by March 2025, according to BBMP officials.

Many residents and commuters feel that the flyover is unnecessary, as traffic movement on the road was not a significant issue before construction began. However, BBMP officials claim that the flyover will provide a signal-free path across four junctions, reducing traveling time significantly.

Commuters have reported long delays and congested roads since construction started, with some saying that it's taking them up to 20 minutes to cover a 3 km distance. One resident lamented that the project was supposed to be completed in one and a half years, but it's now been two and a half years with no end in sight.

BBMP officials attributed the delay to the need to work at night due to heavy traffic movement on the road. The construction process has been slowed down due to mobilization of materials and manpower, they said.

"We are already done with all the groundwork; only the superstructure is pending," said Prahlad, chief engineer, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). "We tried to bring in traffic diversions, but that proved to be difficult and thus, now we only have to work in the night hours."

The Bengaluru Traffic Police acknowledged that the prolonged construction activity has disrupted traffic movement and warned that traffic might get worse when the flyover's spans are placed and metro work begins in the junction.

"It was worse when the project initially began as the width of the road had reduced a lot," said Siri Gowri, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, North. "Now, we have asked them to place barricades closer to the pillars so that there is more space on the road for traffic movement."