The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced that the long-pending construction of two service roads on NH-44, along the Bengaluru airport route, will be completed by October 2025.
A 1-km stretch opposite Esteem Mall in Hebbal and a 1.1-km stretch at Jakkur are being developed as two-lane service roads, each 10 metres wide with paved shoulders, a 2.5-metre utility duct, and a 1.5-km drain. Once finished, they are expected to significantly reduce congestion on the busy airport corridor.
The project had been stalled for nearly eight years due to land acquisition hurdles, but NHAI resumed work after acquiring the required land. In Hebbal, work also includes widening a minor bridge to channel water from Hebbal Lake to the stormwater drain. Project Director KB Jayakumar explained that the bridge is complete up to slab level but the bitumen layer cannot be laid due to continuous rainfall, as a dry surface is needed. Shifting water pipelines and coordinating with state agencies also delayed progress.
At Jakkur, about 500 metres of road is complete, but further work is held up due to pending tree-cutting permissions. Despite paying ₹10.5 lakh to BBMP’s forest cell, approval to cut 15–20 trees is awaited. “If permissions are granted, the road can be completed in 40 days,” Jayakumar said.
Residents welcomed the project, noting that buses halting at Hebbal cause severe evening jams, especially during rains. The new service roads, they believe, will streamline airport-bound traffic.