Double-decker flyover awaits VIP launch; commuters irked

Bengaluru’s Silk Board Flyover Stuck in Red Tape, Commuters Demand Action Bengaluru commuters grappling with daily gridlock at the Silk Board junction are increasingly vocal about their demand for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to open the lower deck of the rail-cum-road double-decker flyover without further delay.

The flyover, part of the Yellow Line Metro project, spans 3 kilometers from Ragigudda to Silk Board, aimed at easing congestion along this crucial corridor.Initially slated for completion by the end of 2023, the opening of the road infrastructure was postponed to May 2024, and subsequently to June, pending formal inauguration approvals from the central and state governments, both stakeholders in the BMRCL venture.

While the lower deck has been ready for over 1.5 years, recent completion of ramps at Silk Board junction has raised hopes for alleviating traffic from Ragigudda and BTM Layout towards HSR Layout and Hosur Road. However, the full operational readiness, including ramps for traffic in the opposite direction, is expected to take another year.The alignment of the flyover intersects the Jayadeva Hospital junction, home to the city’s tallest Metro station facilitating interchanges for upcoming Yellow and Pink lines. At Silk Board, three ramps have been constructed to allow seamless movement for vehicles heading from Ragigudda and BTM Layout towards HSR Layout (ORR side) and Electronics City (Hosur Road), bypassing traffic signals.The project, costing INR 449 crore, necessitated significant modifications to the elevated Metro corridor design back in 2016-17 to accommodate Bengaluru’s first double-decker flyover. Commuters from Jayanagar and Bannerghatta Road endured years of traffic snarls during construction, including the demolition of the Jayadeva flyover in 2019, which led to extensive diversions.

Transport Minister, also representing the BTM Layout constituency, expressed readiness for the flyover’s operational benefits, stating, “The road infrastructure is prepared, awaiting final consent from the Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Urban Development for formal inauguration. Once fully operational, congestion at Silk Board junction, especially with the completion of ramps towards BTM Layout from HSR Layout, is expected to significantly diminish.”BMRCL officials declined detailed comment, simply noting, “The date for opening the road infrastructure will be communicated shortly.”As commuters continue to endure traffic bottlenecks, pressure mounts on BMRCL to swiftly resolve administrative hurdles and inaugurate the Silk Board double-decker flyover to enhance Bengaluru’s urban mobility landscape.