Much delayed Peenya flyover to be finally open for heavy vehicles in December

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After much delays and repair works, the Peenya flyover on Tumakuru road (NH4) is set to open to heavy vehicles by the end of the year, Professor at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Chandra Kishen JM, said on Monday.

This comes as a relief to the motorists, who spend at least one hour daily to cover the four-kilometre distance on the road below the flyover during peak hours.

The flyover constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was first closed in December 2021 after pre-stressed cables were found damaged at two pillars. Ever since, the flyover was subject to delays and interventions citing repair and inspection works.

This caused inconvenience to the motorists and hampered heavy vehicles, and also received a lot of backlash from the people in Bengaluru and other districts. The flyover had also caught the attention of Nitin Gadkari, the central minister for Road Transport & Highways, who demanded attention in resolving the long-standing issue.

Flyover delayed to take flight: A timeline

The Peenya flyover, which is the gateway to the city from the north, connects 22 districts out of 31 in the state, and states of Maharashtra and Goa.

However in December 2021, it was found that the pre-stressed cables on some pillars were corroding, due to which it was closed. 50 days later, a team from the NHAI inspected the highway and found the cables to be corroded and unsafe, and barred heavy vehicles from use.

However, this did not go well with the commuters. After immense pressure on the state government, the Peenya flyover was open only to light motor vehicles (LMVs) from March 2022, while the repair process was initiated. However, another delay was encountered after an inspection, and heavy vehicles were banned from using the flyover.

According to reports, this ban continued to cause massive traffic snarls, especially in the 8th Mile junction. This year, a contract for cable repair works was awarded to a private company, and on the recommendations of an IISc committee, it was decided to replace all the cables across 120 pillars of the flyover.

The reason for the delay was pointed out at the small workspace inside the bridge to insert new cables. Around 43 cables have now been replaced, and the process of replacing the remaining 197 cables is underway, said Chandra Kishen. According to a February 2022 report, the closure of the Peenya flyover had caused nightmarish traffic congestion.

Ambulances passing through this route found it difficult to save severely injured patients, and as a result many lives were lost. Commuters have also complained that the toll plazas collect the tax illegally.

With massive traffic jams recurring, commuters have found little hope in a resolution and took it up with them to deal with it.

At the same time, the traffic police, who were deployed in huge numbers will be relieved to know that they wouldn't have to overlook heavy vehicles entering and diverting vehicles below the flyover.