For over two years, the Cauvery Junction Underpass — dubbed the “Cauvery Magic Box” — has remained largely unusable during rush hours. Traffic police now want the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to either overhaul or dismantle it, as it’s failed to ease congestion.
A senior traffic officer revealed that objections were raised even before its construction, warning it wouldn’t work. “Despite our repeated concerns, the project went ahead. Today, we shut it during peak hours to prevent traffic pile-ups and only open it during lean periods,” the officer stated.
The BDA junction flyover adds to the chaos, he said, emphasizing that unless a broader traffic plan is implemented, congestion at Mekhri Circle will persist — rendering ongoing improvements ineffective.
Built in 2008 at a cost of ₹1.5 crore, the underpass was meant to streamline flow towards Kempegowda International Airport and the upscale Sadashivanagar area. However, it was shut down for five months in 2016 and has frequently been closed due to waterlogging.
Former BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, now Administrator, clarified that the traffic police, not BBMP, blocked access. “Engineering flaws need fixing, but demolition may worsen problems. We believe it has future utility,” he added.
A BBMP official admitted the structure doesn’t conform to Indian Road Congress norms and that it was built before formal project approval. Despite being projected as a fast-track solution using pre-cast technology, the underpass took three months to complete, not 72 hours.
Read Also: