3 railway overpasses, 2 underpasses to be built in City

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, SEPT. 12. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Southern Railway will start work on three railway overpasses and two underpasses at a cost of Rs. 28 crores to ease traffic congestion in the City.

The overpasses at Lingarajpuram, Wheeler Road (near ITC factory), and Banaswadi (near IOC), and widening of overpasses at Madhavnagar and Frazer Town were planned in 1989. But work on these projects could not be taken up because of ``wrong planning'', ``legal hurdles'', and ``land acquisition problems''.

After the BMP appointed RITES as consultant for these projects, the overpasses were redesigned to minimise land acquisition. The projects to be taken up by the BMP will be co-ordinated by the Railways. RITES will supervise work on these projects. Tenders have been invited, and the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, is expected to lay foundation stone for these projects on September 15.

A 810-metre long and 12.3-metre wide overpass will be constructed at the railway level-crossing at Lingarajpuram at an estimated cost of Rs. 11 crores.

The Deputy General Manager of RITES, Mr. N.P.Sharma, told The Hindu here on Tuesday that though the overpass would be built in a commercial area, it had been designed in such a way that there was no need for land acquisition.

Precast fabricated pillars will be used for the double- carriageway overpass. It will be supported by 26 piers. Preliminary meetings on its implementation have been held. To facilitate smooth construction of the overpass within 18 months, the traffic on Lingarajpuram Main Road will be diverted to Haines Road.

The overpass on Wheeler Road will be 650 metres long and 12.3 metres wide double carriageway. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 9.75 crores. The overpass connecting Wheeler Road and Banaswadi Road will be supported by 16 piers. The deadline for the project is 18 months.

The overpass at Banaswadi will be 600 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. It will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 crores, and will be completed within 18 months.

The existing nine-metre-long railway underpass near Shivananda Circle will be widened. Another vent of seven metres will be added to it at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crores. Work on the project will be completed within six months. It will be a double carriageway with space for footpaths.

The railway underpass at Frazer Town will be constructed at a cost of Rs. one crore. It will be completed within five months. A 3.5-metre pedestrian pathway will come up on the nine-metre wide underpass.

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