Bengaluru: After over a decade of delay, work has finally begun on the long-pending Hope Farm Junction underpass in east Bengaluru, with the civic corporation setting a roughly 200-day deadline to complete the project. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 35 crore.
Project Overview
The underpass, proposed over 11 years ago, is expected to make the junction signal-free for a major section of traffic movement, bringing relief to thousands of daily commuters who currently spend long time navigating one of Whitefield’s worst choke points. At present, vehicles from four major corridors — Whitefield, Kadugodi, ITPL and Chandapura — converge at Hope Farm Junction, creating severe bottlenecks during both peak and non-peak hours. Commuters are often forced to wait through signal cycles lasting nearly 120 seconds at a time, leading to long queues and daily frustration.
Why a Decade’s Delay
Engineers from the Bengaluru East civic corporation pointed to prolonged land acquisition hurdles as the single biggest obstacle. According to the chief engineer, the project involves acquisition of six private properties. However, negotiations over compensation — whether through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) or direct cash compensation — remained unresolved for years, delaying physical execution. “We are now nearing resolution and hope to move forward faster,” said an official associated with the project.
Design and Traffic Flow
The 300-metre underpass is designed to make Hope Farm Junction signal-free for vehicles travelling between Whitefield and Kadugodi. Vehicles travelling between ITPL and Chandapura will continue to move on the surface carriageway, while traffic passing between Whitefield and Kadugodi will pass through the grade separator below.
Nearly 30 Trees To Be Cut or Moved
The project involves cutting and relocating nearly 30 trees. According to engineers, the tree expert committee has granted permission to cut a limited number of trees while relocating others that can be preserved. Around eight trees have already been removed, while approvals for the remaining will be sought in stages as land acquisition progresses. On the ground, retaining wall construction has already begun on the Kadugodi side after clearing trees. Simultaneously, service roads are being created along one side of the Whitefield-bound stretch to maintain traffic movement during construction. However, work on the opposite carriageway is yet to begin.
Part of Larger Rs 140-crore Mobility Plan
The Hope Farm underpass is one component of a larger Rs 140-crore package planned for Bengaluru’s eastern corridor. The package includes two underpasses — one at Hope Farm Junction and another at Big Bazaar Junction — along with a flyover at Hoodi, to tackle worsening congestion in the Whitefield region. However, there has been little to no physical progress at the Big Bazaar Junction underpass and Hoodi flyover sites.
Citizens Remain Sceptical
Residents welcome the plan but some wonder if the project will adequately solve traffic issues in the long run. Charan, a personal branding consultant residing in Hoodi, said, “The Hope Farm junction is one of the worst choke points. My concern is whether assessments done years ago still reflect today’s traffic volume. Construction itself will worsen the situation, especially with monsoon rains.” He added heavy movement of trucks, BMTC buses, corporate buses and school buses could continue slowing the traffic movement even after the underpass is opened.
A Whitefield resident, Srinivas Reddy, added temporary arrangements around the construction zone are currently inadequate to handle existing traffic volumes. “Alternative routes should be clearly published for commuters. Authorities should also better utilise relinquished land along the stretch,” he said, adding that stricter action against roadside parking violations would also help ease congestion during the construction period.
For now, commuters using Hope Farm Junction will have to brace for several more months of inconvenience as work finally begins on a project that many believe should have been completed years ago.
