As part of efforts to reduce traffic congestion, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday inaugurated an underpass and two flyovers besides laying the foundation stone for three key projects to be undertaken by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
Speaking after inaugurating the underpass at BEL Circle, a flyover at Bhadrappa Layout junction along Outer Ring Road (ORR) and a portion of the flyover at Nagavara junction along ORR, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the three projects were completed by the BDA at a cost of Rs. 90.10 crore. While the left side of the flyover at Nagavara junction has been completed, Mr Siddaramaiah said that the right side would be thrown open to the public in six months.
Upcoming projects
He laid the foundation stone for realignment and upgradation of Outer Ring Road and construction of an underpass from Kanteerava Studio junction to ALISDA at Goranguntepalya junction on Tumkur Road at a cost of Rs. 125.39 crore.
The second project involves realignment and upgradation of the ORR and construction of an elevated road from ALISDA to BEL underpass over the Yeshwanthpur-Tumkur railway line. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs. 191.45 crore.
The third project involves improving stretches of ORR at a total cost of Rs. 61.12 crore. These are the stretch between Goranguntepalya junction and Nagavara junction, Nagavara junction to K.R. Puram, Whitefield flyover to Central Silk Board junction and Nayandahalli junction to Goranguntepalya junction.
Mr Siddaramaiah made a brief stop at Sarvagnanagar constituency where he told mediapersons, “The forest department had not been taking care of a 33-acre parcel of land in this area. I have told them to use the land to develop a botanical garden,” he said. He also said the BBMP is coming up with five parks in other parts of the city.
Asphalting roads
Later speaking to presspersons, Mr. Siddaramaiah on Friday said the asphalting of 400 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads that had been taken up at a cost of Rs. 560 crore would be completed by March end.
He said asphalting of 120 km had been completed. “For nearly five years, major roads had not been asphalted,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that majority of the work had been completed at the C.N.R. Rao underpass and the construction of the remaining portion would be completed by this month-end. He said work orders had been issued for 12 roads under Tender SURE project. In addition to this, road improvement in the newly added 110 villages, grade separator at Basaveshwarnagar, West of Chord Road and Kittur Rani Chennamma junction and eight-lane road at the Okalipuram junction would be completed soon.
KPSC
Asked about the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the issue would come up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting scheduled on February 11.
