Expressway Plan to Ease Kanakapura Traffic Sparks Debate
The BBMP is drafting a detailed project report (DPR) for a proposed expressway linking Banashankari to NICE Road. Spanning 10 kilometers, the project aims to alleviate congestion on Kanakapura Road, the hometown of Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. Estimated to cost ₹1,200 crore, the initiative seeks to streamline traffic flow.
In a letter to BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath, Shivakumar highlighted the increasing traffic woes on Kanakapura Road, a key connection to Bengaluru. With Metro Rail construction limiting the feasibility of grade separators, he proposed a flyover along the BWSSB’s parallel pipeline road as an alternative. He instructed BBMP’s planning team to expedite a feasibility study and DPR preparation.
A senior BBMP official revealed that tenders would soon be floated for the DPR. The official noted that while the BMRCL’s double-decker flyover at Ragigudda has helped, it lacks seamless connectivity, causing persistent bottlenecks. The expressway is envisioned to bridge this gap.
However, civic activist Kathyayini Chamaraj criticized the move, accusing authorities of bypassing consultations with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), which oversees the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan. Chamaraj argued that instead of costly infrastructure projects, the focus should shift to boosting BMTC’s bus fleet and improving last-mile connectivity.
The proposal has sparked a debate about priorities in Bengaluru’s urban planning, with residents calling for sustainable and inclusive solutions.
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