BBMP floats new Rs 141-cr tender for completion of Ejipura Flyover

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

 BBMP has announced Rs 141 crore tender to complete the pending work of the Ejipura- Koramangala Flyover.

 The work on the elevated corridor between Ejipura traffic signal and Kendriya Sadan in Koramangala began nearly five years ago and had come to a standstill midway over a conflict between the contractor and the BBMP.

The legal implications regarding the new tender were resolved after the Karnataka High Court disposed of a PIL contending delay in completing the Ejipura flyover and directed BBMP to decide on the halted project after holding discussions with the defaulting contractor Simplex Infrastructure Ltd.

M Lokesh, Chief Engineer (projects), said, “The project was delayed because Simplex Infrastructure had a lot of debt, so they could not continue. The fresh tender will help us complete the remaining 50 per cent work.”

 In February, the Karnataka High Court directed the BBMP to initiate criminal proceedings against the company for misappropriation of funds and to cancel the contract. Following the court’s direction, the state government issued an order in March and cancelled the tender awarded to Simplex to build the flyover.

The government also directed the BBMP to start the bidding for a fresh tender for the remaining work. “When the work began in 2017, it had a 30-month deadline.

But the work was not done on time. So, this time the tender will include the condition of competition work within 15 months with no permission for joint bids,” said Lokesh. After the completion of the flyover, commuters can avoid many traffic signals in Koramangala, Ejipura and surrounding areas to reach Sarjapura Road and Hosur Road.

The flyover will help commuters avoid traffic jams at Ejipura main road, Inner Ring Road, Sony World Signal and Kendriya Sadan junction. The last date for submission of the bid is September 16. BBMP has also reportedly settled the pending dues of Rs 75 crore with Simplex