Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has strongly urged the state government and Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) to halt the construction of new flyovers until public consultations are held and detailed project reports (DPRs) are made publicly available. His statement comes in response to B-SMILE's recent move to invite tenders for nine short and medium-length elevated corridors across the city, with an estimated cost of Rs 3,100 crore. Most of these proposed projects are located within the Bangalore South parliamentary constituency, which Surya believes necessitates broader public discussion before implementation.
Demand for Transparency
In a letter addressed to B-SMILE director B S Pralhad on Saturday, Surya demanded a clear explanation regarding the rationale, technical feasibility, and projected impact of the proposed projects. He accused the authorities of pushing these initiatives without transparency or public scrutiny. Pralhad was previously responsible for Bengaluru's road infrastructure under the erstwhile BBMP.
Details of Proposed Projects
The projects mentioned in the letter include an elevated corridor from Minerva Circle to Hudson Circle with a loop flyover to Town Hall, a 5.2-km elevated corridor connecting Old Madras Road to Electronics City via Swami Vivekananda Metro station, Indiranagar, Old Airport Road, and Hosur Road up to Silk Board Junction at a cost of Rs 852 crore, and a 5.3-km elevated corridor from Shoolay Circle to St. John's Hospital Road via Anepalya and Adugodi Junctions at a cost of Rs 519 crore.
Concerns Over Approval Process
Surya pointed out that these projects allegedly did not receive prior approval from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), which, under the BMLTA Act of 2022, has the authority to review and approve major urban mobility projects. Without such scrutiny, he argued, it remains uncertain whether the flyovers are based on scientific traffic planning or would simply relocate congestion from one junction to another.
Example of Poor Planning
Citing the Ragigudda flyover as an example, Surya highlighted how poorly planned elevated corridors can exacerbate bottlenecks rather than resolve them. He noted that the high-speed elevated corridor ends at a busy traffic signal near Aurobindo Junction, merely shifting the Central Silk Board traffic bottleneck further down the road and causing severe congestion during peak hours.
Call for Public Participation
Surya also objected to the DPRs not being placed in the public domain, given the scale and long-term impact of these projects. He stated, "Bengaluru cannot be run like a contractor's playground," insisting that public participation must form the foundation of major infrastructure decisions in the city.
