Sivananda Circle flyover impasse continues

By Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Here is a bad news for motorists who are dreading to pass through Sivananda Circle during peak hours. You have to wait a few more months to pass through this junction without any hassles because the flyover construction is embroiled in litigation. The court recently adjourned the hearing of a petition against the construction to next month.

“We expected the court to complete hearing the petition and give a green signal to complete the pending works.

“With the court adjourning the case to next month, I think we may need a few more months to complete the construction,’’ said BBMP Chief Engineer (Projects) M Lokesh.

The flyover project, which is expected to reduce traffic jams on Hare Krishna Road and Kumara Krupa Road, has already missed many deadlines. It was planned in 2011 and got approved in 2017. As like many BBMP projects, the flyover cost was escalated from Rs 19.8 crore to Rs 39.50 crore due to either the delay or changes in the plan.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta visited the spot in February 2021 and assured that the work would be completed by May 2021. BBMP Chief Engineer (Projects) had announced in November 2021 that the work would be completed in one month.

Meanwhile, motorists and businessmen have expressed displeasure over the inordinate delay. “It will be a shame on the BBMP authorities for the delay in completing the remaining work.

Earlier, the BBMP authorities used to attribute Covid pandemic as the cause for the delay. Now, they are shifting the blame on a person who filed a petition,’’ said Ravi Krishna S, a two-wheeler rider. Motorists complain that they have to wait more than five minutes to pass through the junction by using service roads during the peak hours.

“It will bring good name to the BBMP authorities if they succeed in getting the court permission to complete the pending work as early as possible,’’ said Hemanth Kumar, a motorist.

Businessmen complain about an increase in pollution levels due to the traffic jam.

“I am losing customers. There is hardly any space near my shop for customers to have tea or coffee,’’ said the owner of a shop on a condition of anonymity.