The construction of a grade separator on Ullala Main Road-Kengeri Horwarthula Road, costing Rs 28.2 crore, has come to a halt, drawing criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP city unit secretary Anjana Gowda expressed disappointment, stating that the project, which commenced in 2020 with a scheduled completion by 2022, remains unfinished due to the Corporation’s planning department inefficiencies.
Gowda highlighted that despite a nearly two-year overrun of the deadline, the project’s delay has severely impacted traffic flow. Commuters are forced onto longer detours, posing risks to drivers, pedestrians, and construction material transporters. He further queried why the BBMP had disbursed Rs 6.74 crore to the contractor before project completion.
Responding to criticisms, BBMP Principal Engineer BS Prahallad acknowledged the project’s significance but cited challenges in executing the construction without disrupting the entire road’s traffic. Prahallad explained that the work was intended to proceed in phases but faced additional hurdles, including objections from Bangalore University concerning the presence of a Ganesha temple.
Prahallad clarified that the university’s condition for providing land involved constructing the temple, which contributed to the project’s delay. He assured that construction would resume with completion targeted by March 2025, affirming the Corporation’s commitment to honoring the agreement to disburse Rs 6.74 crores.
