It took four years and Rs 21 crore to build. But 13 years later the Jayadeva flyover in J P Nagar is all set for demolition, spelling fresh trouble for people of the surrounding localities, who had put up with huge inconvenience while it was being built.
Although Bengalureans have become accustomed to "adjusting" to whatever demands are made on them in the name of development, transport experts cannot help but wonder why the city's planning is so chaotic. Why was the flyover built using the taxpayers' money if it had to be demolished eventually, they ask pertinently.
The authorities, as usual, have little to say in their defence while the flyover gets ready to make way for a multi-level structure inclusive of both roads and elevated Metro Rail tracks, besides an interchange station for the 18.82 km RV Road- Bommasandra line and the 21.25 km Gottigere-Nagawara line being built under phase II of the project. While the work is expected to be completed by 2020, given the Metro’s track record, it could take even longer, worry the locals, for whom the flyover has provided a critical link between South Bengaluru and the city’s IT hub.
All indications are that the demolition of the flyover could begin in the new year. In the meanwhile, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has already begun doing the spadework for the Metro lines on the service road running alongside it.
Although traffic diversions have been planned along the route for the convenience of commuters, most are afraid they will add to the congestion in the area. While there will be no change in the traffic movement at the Jayadeva underpass, the people of BTM Layout and Koramangala ,who are likely to be the worst hit, fear they are in for a long-ish nightmare. Hoping to alleviate some of their troubles they held a meeting with representatives of the BMRCL, traffic police, the BMTC, BWSSB and telecom department recently to make sure the changes are to their liking. Their several demands included widening of the roads that will bear the brunt of the traffic diversions, shifting of utilities from the construction site to save them from damage, and suitable alternative routes for BMTC buses.
"They say the corporation has held a meeting with the departments concerned on the traffic situation, but it is hard to believe them because they have already crossed many deadlines for the project. So now we are in touch with traffic police ourselves because once the work begins at the spot, most of the arterial roads off Banneraghatta Road will see bumper to bumper traffic, residential areas will lose their peace, pollution will rise and productivity of working people will be badly affected on account of increased travel time," says a resident of BTM Layout, Santosh S.
Traffic from RV Road towards Central Silk Board Junction has already been hit as the BMRCL has begun erecting pillars for the elevated Metro corridor here.
BMTC unhappy, to lose revenue
As people of J.P Nagar and its surrounding areas brace for a nightmare on the roads while the multi-level structure comprising both roads and an elevated Metro Rail corridor is built in their midst, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is not happy either with the disruption it could cause in its its services. With the Jayadeva flyover used by buses operating over nearly 20 different routes, its demolition is expected to wreak havoc in the corporation’s schedules.
While its passengers are bound to suffer, the BMTC is also unhappy about the revenue loss the route changes could bring. Pointing out that buses running from Banashankari towards Central Silk Board and the Bannerghatta Road will have to be diverted once the work on the multi-level flyover begins at Jayadeva junction, BMTC officials say this could directly hit its revenue.
"We have been told make some changes in our route map because of the BMRCL work at the Jayadeva junction. Although we have heard that there will be no change in the traffic movement at the Jayadeva underpass both ways, we cannot be entirely sure of this. We are working on the new routes and will come up with a plan that will not inconvenience our regular commuters," assures a senior BMTC official, adding, “We don’t have any option other than to support the BMRCL in this project.”
Under the diversions planned,once work on the new multi-level flyover begins, those travelling from Dairy Circle towards Central Silk Board junction will have to take a right turn at Gurappanpalya junction via 39th Cross Road, then a left turn at East End Main Road and follow this with a left turn at Marenahalli Main Road. Commuters heading from Dairy Circle to Banashankari will have to take a right turn at Gurappanpalya junction via 39th Cross Road and then a left turn at 28th Main Road before taking a right turn at Marenahalli Road.
