Bengaluru's Ejipura Flyover Remains a Distant Dream Despite July Deadline
The Ejipura flyover in Bengaluru continues to face significant delays, with authorities struggling to meet the July completion deadline. This 2.38-kilometer elevated corridor, designed to ease traffic between Inner Ring Road and Koramangala, has become a symbol of prolonged infrastructure challenges in the city.
Land Acquisition Hurdles Persist
Chief Engineer Raghavendra Prasad of the Greater Bengaluru Authority confirmed that land acquisition remains incomplete. Authorities need to acquire 8,799.70 square meters of land to finish the project. Discussions are ongoing, but the process has slowed progress considerably.
Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of GBA, previously announced a July completion target. However, with land issues unresolved, this deadline appears increasingly unrealistic. The flyover's half-built pillars have stood idle for years, earning it the nickname 'Stonehenge' among locals.
Skyrocketing Costs and Political Delays
Originally budgeted at Rs 203.20 crore with a November 2019 completion date, the project's cost has ballooned to Rs 1,761 crore. Construction began in 2017 under the Congress government but stalled for nearly five years during the BJP's tenure from 2019 to 2023.
Work resumed in November 2023 after Congress returned to power. The flyover features entry and exit ramps on Inner Ring Road and near Koramangala Kendriya Sadan, aiming to streamline traffic flow toward Hosur Road National Highway.
Public Frustration Grows
Residents express mixed feelings about the project's progress. Rajesh M K, a long-time Bengaluru resident from Kerala, notes recent construction speed but doubts the June deadline. "I have seen observable changes, but I do not think it can be completed by end of June," he says.
Koramangala resident Rama M V hopes for completion within a year, while J P Nagar's Ananya Kulkarni calls the July deadline "outrageous." She remarks, "I was in school when construction began. Now I have two degrees and a job. It stands as a monument to Bengaluru's municipal failure."
Social Media Spotlight
The flyover recently gained attention on social media when a user shared custom fridge magnets featuring the unfinished structure. The post highlighted the project's long association with residents' daily lives, reflecting widespread awareness of its delays.
For many living nearby, the prolonged construction has become routine. The project's history of stops and starts continues to test public patience, with completion seeming ever more elusive.
