Karnataka govt to build tunnels, flyovers to ease out Bengaluru traffic: DKS

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said there are 18 points in Bengaluru which witness traffic congestions.

The Karnataka government is mulling construction of either tunnels or flyovers to ease out traffic congestions at key points in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivkumar said on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters after inspecting various locations that witness congestion, Shivakumar said there are 18 points of traffic congestion in the city. The National Highway Authority of India has given a proposal for a long-term solution and there are proposals placed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority. Shivakumar said, “I have asked officials to identify in the next 10 to 15 days places where tunnels can be created to ease traffic congestion.”

“We have two options. (Construction of) flyovers or underground (tunnels). We will have to see which is feasible,” Shivakumar said, adding that the government is working towards both short and long-term solutions to address traffic congestion in Bengaluru.

Shivakumar added that the government is mulling to allow construction work of the Bengaluru Metro during the day hours too in order to speed up the progress. During a meeting of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), officials had attributed the slow progress to the compulsion to work only during night hours.

Keeping the safety of road users in mind, there should be a plan to bring in lorries and cranes to construction sites even during the day,” he added