Hebbal Elevated Corridor: Work to Finish Ahead of Schedule, Promises CM Shivakumar
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar promises the Hebbal Elevated Corridor will be finished early without causing traffic disruptions in Bengaluru.
Commuters in Bengaluru have a reason to be optimistic as Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the Hebbal Elevated Corridor project is expected to be completed well before its official 18-month deadline. During a personal visit to the construction site on Monday, the Chief Minister assured the public that the project would be executed without causing road closures or significant traffic disruptions.
Personal Oversight and Traffic Management
To ensure the project stays on track and does not turn into a nightmare for daily travelers, Chief Minister Shivakumar personally inspected the site. He summoned both the Traffic Commissioner and the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) Commissioner to conduct a comprehensive review of the ongoing work and address potential traffic-related bottlenecks.
"We will ensure that all traffic-related problems are resolved. I am also visiting the site to personally assess the situation. I have called the Traffic Commissioner and the BDA Commissioner, and I am inspecting the site. I will ensure that there are no problems," the Chief Minister stated.
Project Progress and Smart Construction
The Chief Minister highlighted that the current administration initiated a separate line for the project, and the section connecting the Ring Road towards Bengaluru has already been finished. He provided a detailed update on the current status of the construction:
- Underground Work: Approximately 50 per cent of the underground work is already complete.
- Tunnelling: The small tunnel located near the campus is now ready.
- Timeline: While the contractors were given an 18-month window, the CM expects the remaining work to be wrapped up within the next year.
Minimizing Road Blocks
Addressing the primary concern of Bengaluru residents—traffic jams—Shivakumar explained a strategic approach to construction. He revealed that project components are being prefabricated at external sites and transported to the location only for final installation. This method ensures that roads remain open, with the only time-consuming phase being the fitting of the pillars.
Stand on Mekedatu Project
Beyond infrastructure, the Chief Minister also addressed the ongoing tension with Tamil Nadu regarding the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. Reacting to objections raised by the neighboring state and letters sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shivakumar, who also manages the Water Resources portfolio, urged the Tamil Nadu leadership to revisit the Supreme Court's orders.
He asserted that the reservoir is primarily intended for Bengaluru's drinking water and power generation, arguing that it would ultimately benefit the lower riparian state as well.
"I think the Chief Minister might not have seen the court order. I hope his officers will guide him," Shivakumar remarked, inviting Tamil Nadu officials to visit the site to understand the project's nature. He reiterated that Karnataka is acting within its legal rights, stating that while Karnataka has the right to build the dam, Tamil Nadu maintains its right to receive its allocated share of Cauvery water.