Bengaluru: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has finalised locations for double-decker flyovers and other road infrastructure projects, including road flyovers and an underpass, as part of the proposed Orange Line. The projects aim to ease traffic bottlenecks along Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Magadi Road.On the western stretch of ORR, road-cum-Metro structures will come up over 1.3km at Sarakki Junction and another 1.5km along Kamakya, Ittamadu and Hosakerehalli. On Magadi Road, a 4km-long double-decker structure has been proposed near Kadabagere.BMRCL has also proposed road infrastructure projects at major junctions along the Orange Line corridor. At Sumanahalli, a road flyover is planned parallel to the Metro corridor, over ORR.At Goraguntepalya, where the Orange Line will cross above the operational Green Line, BMRCL has proposed an underpass to ease traffic movement at the busy junction. A separate road flyover towards Nelamangala is also planned to decongest traffic at the ORR-Tumakuru Road intersection. Another road flyover has been proposed at Muthyala Nagar to ease traffic on ORR.Earlier, the state govt had proposed a 37km end-to-end double-decker flyover as part of the Orange Line project. However, following a report by transport consultancy RITES, it decided to reduce the length and focus on junctions prone to severe congestion rather than build the structure along the entire corridor. The proposal was placed before the BMRCL board for approval, and its clearance has now paved the way for construction of Phase 3 of Namma Metro.BMRCL will soon float fresh tenders for the 45km Orange Line, connecting Kempapura to JP Nagar IV Phase and Hosahalli to Kadabagere on Magadi Road.A senior BMRCL official told TOI that the length of the double-decker flyover had been reduced from 37km to 10km. Several measures, including underpasses and road flyovers, would be taken up alongside the double-decker structures to ease congestion.“Double-decker structures at Sarakki and Kamakya were part of the original Orange Line plan and will be retained. At Kadabagere, the road is too narrow and building density is high along the proposed Metro alignment. A double-decker structure is therefore necessary. The alignment will pass above NICE Road, and once operational, motorists using the major arterial road, SM Krishna Road, will benefit,” he said.The official said preparations were under way to float fresh tenders for Orange Line. The tenders will be issued after concurrence from JICA, which is financing the project. Construction is likely to begin next year.It has been more than 4.5 years since BMRCL took up construction of a new Metro line. The last major line for which construction began was Blue Line in 2022, connecting Central Silk Board and Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Controversies surrounding the double-decker flyover proposal have already delayed the Orange Line project by nearly two years.Decongesting GoraguntepalyaA BMRCL official said several road infrastructure projects have been proposed to make Goraguntepalya a signal-free corridor. The proposed underpass is intended to ease congestion at the junction, where the Metro alignment will pass above the operational Green Line. At least 3 lakh vehicles use the Goraguntepalya stretch every day, and congestion is increasing each year, he said.“If we build a double-decker structure above the existing Green Line, its height would exceed 30 metres. RITES has recommended restricting the structure’s height to a maximum of 28 metres for operational, structural and other reasons. Considering this, an underpass has been proposed to ease congestion at the junction,” he said.The official added that an additional flyover was needed at Muthyala Nagar. However, execution of the road projects comes with challenges, including property acquisition.Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had proposed a 4.5km tunnel road from Kanteerava Studio to BEL Circle to ease congestion at Goraguntepalya. BDA was asked to consult BMRCL because the proposed tunnel road overlapped with the Metro alignment. With BMRCL now proposing an underpass at Goraguntepalya, uncertainty looms over BDA’s tunnel road project.
