Days ahead of completion, BBMP opts for design change of flyover

It was unable to acquire seven properties for the Shivananda Circle flyover work

The civic body, which earlier announced that it would open the steel bridge at Shivananda Circle to the public by November last year, is now planning a design change due to land acquisition issues. This will be the third time the design of the flyover will be changed.

As per the existing design, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) needs to acquire seven private properties of a total of 500 sq.m towards Sheshadripuram railway underpass. However, property owners have questioned the acquisition in the High Court. “We were unable to convince the owners, so we decided to drop acquisition of these properties. It will help us save ₹40 crore and finish the project early by making small changes in the design. We will submit our plan in the High Court when the case comes up for hearing,” said Lokesh, chief engineer, projects, BBMP.

The BBMP’s decision to change plans so late has come under severe criticism. “This essentially shows there is an absolute lack of planning. How can they start a project before securing the land? This is not the first time plans have been changed. Hennur flyover and Byappanahalli flyover had similar trajectories,” said V. Ravichandar, former member of the BBMP Restructuring Committee.