‘Widen Hebbal flyover’

Traffic police tell BDA that the four-lane flyover is bound to create a bottleneck once the six-lane expressway on the BIA Road becomes operational

Travelling to the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) could be a breeze in a few months from now when the much-touted six-lane elevated expressway on National Highway 7 opens to motorists. But, city traffic police believe getting into the city could still be a sleep-inducing crawl. 

City traffic police have written to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) saying that the four-lane Hebbal Flyover is bound to be a bottleneck as the expressway is a six-lane one. They have asked the civic agency to make modifications to the flyover to prevent traffic from piling up at the start of the flyover when the elevated expressway becomes operational. Traffic police have suggested that an extra lane be added on either side of the existing flyover. 

Once open, the elevated expressway will ensure a signal-free run from the Hebbal Flyover right up to BIA and is being constructed at a cost of Rs 600 crore. The project is expected to cut travel time down to about 20 minutes from the current 40 minutes. Vehicles would be able to travel at fair speed, but police believe that traffic congestion at the Hebbal Flyover is inevitable. 

“We have written to BDA on the issue,” M A Saleem, additional commissioner of police (traffic) said. “The elevated expressway is a six-lane one and vehicles will be travelling at speed which means a greater inflow. It is bound to create a jam at the existing flyover. We have suggested that the flyover be widened and additional lanes added.”

Traffic cops have a point

Police say they don’t expect a spurt in traffic once the expressway is opened. This stretch on the NH7 currently clocks about 8,000 PCU (Passenger Car Unit) per hour during peak hours. Experts feel the traffic police have a point and the problem should be addressed immediately. 

"Vehicles flowing from a six-lane road to a four-lane one will certainly create chaos,” Prof M N Shrihari, traffic and transport expert, said. “The PCU in the stretch in peak hours currently touches about 8000. The increase in the vehicles currently is 12 per cent every year. Considering these aspects, the flyover is bound to be a bottleneck. The city traffic police’s suggestion comes at the right time. A conversion to a six-lane flyover will help handle close to 9,000 PCU per hour during peak hour. And it will also satisfy Indian Road Congress norms.”

BDA is on board

The BDA too feels that the suggestion is a good one. 

“City traffic police have asked us to convert the existing four-lane flyover to six-lane,” T Sham Bhat, commissioner, BDA said. “It is essential. We will take decision based on the state government’s direction.”