Smooth drive on ORR

If everything goes as per the plan, traffic snarls on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) will ease to some extent by February end.

With BDA completing and opening Mahadevapura Flyover and an underpass at Kaadubeesanahalli for traffic from February 1 much to the relief of the motorists, the civic body aims to complete the entire project by this April 30 and operational for traffic.
It may be recalled here that BDA is constructing four flyovers and an underpass on the ORR for seamless traffic and signal-free junction at a total estimated cost of Rs. 194.95 crore. BDA Executive Engineer B Nagendra told Cityplus that one of the ramps of Bellandur Flyover would be operational for traffic by February 15. "HSR Layout Flyover will also be completed and operational for traffic by February 15," he informed.
The flyovers in Mahadevapura and HSR Layout are likely to be officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister. "One of the ramps of Devarabeesanahalli Flyover is likely to be completed and operational for traffic by February 25," the engineer said.
The ORR witness bumper-to-bumper traffic and frequent traffic jams during peak hours. Adding to their miseries, it has become a nightmare for the motorists and residents as well with pathetic condition of ORR and the service road, which has become a health hazard to them. The mega infrastructure project is behind schedule and the original completion deadline of the project was extended to December 2011. However, the BDA has even missed the extended deadline to complete the project. The motorists are bearing the brunt because of the project delay.
Nagendra attributed the delay in project with utility shifting problem. "Penalty will be imposed on the contractor for the delay. Laying of pipelines for BWSSB drinking water supply and gas on the ORR hampered the infrastructure project further. As drinking water and gas pipelines are essential services, we should work in co-ordination with civic bodies," he added.

--RAGHAVENDRA R