Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082219230300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Loop on flyover inaugurated

Staff Reporter

BDA to construct skywalks at Maharani's College and Koramangala

BANGALORE: Living up to its promise of completing a loop of the Airport Road flyover in a month's time, the Bangalore Development Authority threw open a loop of the flyover, which connects Koramangala and the Airport Road, on Monday.

The grade level bridge that connects Indiranagar to Airport Road, which had been closed since the inauguration of the main flyover in July, for work on the loops was also thrown open to traffic.

Inaugurating the loop, BDA commissioner M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said the third loop would be ready by September, the fourth by October and the final loop by November.

The Airport Road flyover had been a controversial project involved in litigation. The project was delayed by over two years because of problems between the BDA and the contractor, Uttar Pradesh State Bridges Corporation. Even after the inauguration of the main part of the flyover, there were problems with the flyover. Residents complained that the box drains laid by the BDA blocked the entry into their homes and offices. Some said the debris from the flyover clogged the sewage pipes leading to backflow of sewage water into homes.

Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of the second loop of the flyover, Mr. Gowda said the BDA had proposed to build two skywalks — near Maharani's College which will connect the Arts Department and Science Department and another at Forum Mall in Koramangala. Work on the skyway at Maharani's College would be taken up immediately and the other one at Forum would will be taken up through private-public partnership, he said.