In Bengaluru’s Varthur area, residents are raising strong objections to a flyover project proposed by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), urging the government to instead invest in Metro rail infrastructure to meet the area’s surging commuter demands.
KRDCL is currently expanding a 1.9 km stretch of State Highway 35 from Varthur to Gunjur, increasing the road width from 30 to 100 metres. Alongside this, a flyover from Vinayaka Theatre to Varthur Lake—costing Rs 190 crore out of the total Rs 482 crore project budget—has drawn widespread criticism from residents.
Locals argue the flyover offers limited benefits over such a short distance, and claim its construction began without proper land acquisition or public consultation. “We’ve written to every authority—CM, BBMP, BMRCL—but no one’s responding. Now, pillars are already rising,” said Gangadhar BM, president of Varthur Nagararika Hita Rakshana Vedike.
Residents believe a Metro line would be more effective in reducing traffic and pollution. A BMRCL feasibility study for a 68 km Kalena Agrahara–Kadugodi Tree Park Metro line, covering Varthur, has reportedly been completed. However, KRDCL officials claim they haven’t received updates from BMRCL.
The community sees the current project as technically unsound and socially negligent, lacking both transparency and vision. With flyover work creeping forward, residents are demanding a rethink in planning priorities, placing mass transit above short-term fixes.
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