NHAI plans underpasses on Bengaluru’s Ballari Road to ease traffic congestion: Report

NHAI plans underpasses on Ballari Road in Bengaluru to alleviate traffic congestion towards Kempegowda International Airport.

Published on: Nov 17, 2024, 11:45:13 IST

By Yamini C S

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To address mounting traffic congestion on Ballari Road in Bengaluru, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is considering constructing underpasses at key junctions like Kodigehalli, Byatarayanapura, Jakkur, and Allalasandra. These measures aim to eliminate traffic signals and ease travel on the road that leads to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), The Times of India reported.

Proposed upgrades include underpasses at key junctions, service road restorations, and new public amenities, addressing safety and improving commuter convenience amid ongoing Metro work.

With the ongoing Blue Line Metro work by BMRCL further worsening traffic conditions on service roads, NHAI Project Director KB Jayakumar highlighted challenges in executing the underpasses, saying, “Below the elevated corridor of the national highway, there are multiple junctions. Constructing underpasses would help ease traffic. However, the availability of land and the presence of giant pillars constructed for the elevated corridor pose challenges,” as quoted in the report.

Here are the proposed upgrades:

Underpass at IAF Yelahanka Station: A 750-meter underpass is planned using the cut-and-cover method, benefiting motorists heading to the airport.

Sadahalli Underpass: NHAI has proposed this to reduce bottlenecks near the toll gate.

Service Road Restoration: Service roads impacted by Metro work, especially between Allalasandra and Jakkur Junction, will be restored to improve flow for Yelahanka commuters.

Additional developments: The NHAI has also planned an EV charging station at Hebbal, alongside new bus bays and public amenities on available land. Long-awaited restoration of service roads near locations like Esteem Mall is expected to ease peak-hour traffic woes, the report stated.

Responding to a directive from Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, NHAI will also address accident-prone areas on the highway, such as the stretch near Café Coffee Day in Yelahanka.

The proposed projects aim to reduce congestion, improve safety, and enhance commuter convenience on this critical route to Bengaluru’s airport.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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