Okalipuram 8-lane flyover finally ready for inauguration

BENGALURU: One of the major junctions in the heart of the city, the Okalipuram 8-lane flyover, which was awaiting completion of work for 12 years, is now finally ready for formal inauguration. The junction used to be known for traffic congestion, and was already opened for vehicle movement in view of the dire need.

Work on the eight-lane flyover in Okalipuram, constructed by the BBMP, had been going on for 12 years. Now that work is over, the side walls of the road are already being painted and prepped for inauguration.

Lokesh, BBMP Chief Engineer-Projects, said the junction would see heavy traffic congestion earlier. “People who were going towards Majestic and the railway station were facing problems. With the opening of this flyover, it is expected that traffic will be controlled around Sangolli Rayanna City Railway Station, Majestic, Seshadripuram, and Malleswaram. There are two works pending from the railway department. It will be completed in a week or 10 days, and the BBMP is taking measures to complete pending work. Until its completion, the Palike sought permission from the railways for vehicle movement. The flyover was constructed at a cost of Rs 112 crore and Rs 156 crore was spent on on land acquisition and Rs 80 crore on box-pushing work under the Chennai and Tumakuru tracks. The total cost of the project was Rs 337 crore”, he explained.

Vehicles can move signal-free through a multi-loop flyover to major places, including Majestic, Seshadripuram, Malleswaram and Rajajinagar. The BBMP has made all preparations for the inauguration of the eight-lane road next week by Deputy CM D K Shivakumar who is also in charge of Bengaluru development.

The flyover work was started in 2012. The work was delayed due to a lack of coordination for land acquisition between the BBMP and the Railways.