One of the issues that Bengaluru and its civic bodies have is that there is always a delay in completing infrastructural projects. Ejipura flyover project is one of such delayed projects, which started seven years ago. It was meant to link south-eastern part of the city with both eastern and western parts; however, starting from 2017, it has been faced with several delays.
At first carried out by Simplex Infrastructure Limited, this scheme has had many interruptions as a result of financial constraints, regime change and disputes between the builders.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has released a fresh tender for this project as at 2024 now under Bollineni Seenaiah Company Private Limited (BSCPL). According to officials, it might be another 15 months before the completion of the project.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
When did the project start?
Construction officially began on Ejipura flyover in 2017 under Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government through Simplex Infrastructure Limited based in Kolkota. By the time the coalition government collapsed two years later, only less than half of what Simplex should have done was completed.
In 2021, the BBMP blamed the company for not finishing its job on time hence they called for new tenders.
“The project is currently on hold as termination process is going on. The company that took up this work no longer wants to proceed with it,” Ramesh N., then Chief Engineer (Projects), BBMP stated.
“It will take about two to three months for BBMP to find out good contractors. After that, work will resume and hopefully by mid-2022 we shall be having a functional flyover,” he added.
However traffic congestion caused by delayed construction led to public interest litigation filed in Karnataka High Court which prompted BBMP’s fresh tender issuing in August 2022. This however recalled later due to technical hitch.
Another tender was successfully approved in January 2023. The contract for the remaining stage of work was awarded to B Seenaiah & Co Projects Limited (BSCPL) based in Hyderabad.
The project’s total completion cost has been estimated at ₹142 crore and moreover, Simplex Infrastructure is still being owed outstanding payments worth another ₹15 crore by BBMP.
War of words
Speaking once the Congress came into power in 2023, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy representing BTM Layout constituency was hopeful that the flyover would be done soonest and he assured that it would happen very quickly.
Reddy highlighted that one of the reasons for the delays had been BJP’s misallocation of funds to MLAs-ruled constituencies.
However since January 2023, there has been no progress; things have really slowed down. Additionally, apart from causing inconveniences, these delays led to an escalation in costs of the project.
During a cabinet meeting in September 2023 it emerged that state government will revise its cost up to ₹307.96 crores. On November 2023, BBMP again declared that BSCPL will carry out this project with a warning time limit of fifteen months as cited on the tender document allegedly made to them….
Hurdles adding to the halt
In December 1st, 2023 nine trees were cleared by BBMP after removing sixty seven trees on proposal which came for construction and this met serious opposition from residents as well environmentalists.
It was only until the deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of BBMP issued a special order amidst anti-environmentalists’ demonstrations, that all activities related to tree felling were stopped. The DCF contended that considering the fact that, some of the environmental bodies had gone to court, it would be necessary for BBMP to remain inactive until such a time when a decision would come from court asking them to move on with their work.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
CM directs BBMP to serve contractors with notice
On a tour of Bangalore city in May, 2024, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reprimanded the contractors for their sluggish tempo.
“Notice should be given to the contractor as per law. And if they do not respond then terminate the contract “he ordered officials from BBMP.
One week after the orders from CM, the BBMP served a notice to the contractor. In its notice dated 24th March, it is emphasized by their Chief Engineer (Project Central) that several instructions were already issued by civic body before for completion of this project within time limits. The notice stated that engineers were not brought by the contractor as required, there was no casting yard and launching girders and shuttering materials are other machinery which had been ignored.
The progress of construction of compound wall has also remained insignificant since December 2023. “Site debris has not been removed by you and there have been no barricades,” reads another part of this note. If such mentioned areas were not rectified within seven days, BBMP warned that resorting to liquidated damages would be among other contractual terms implemented.
Due in 15 months
According to Lokesh M., Chief Engineer Projects who spoke with Hindu, he said that agency was ready to increase speed on work and begin soonest but said it will take another 15 months for project completion.
“As per CM’s order we issued a notice to them and also called them for a meeting asking them to expedite things. Within next ten days upon our request they will meet all these conditions.”
Agency has begun ground work ;we are only looking at super structure requiring our attention and planning which would take another fifteen months for entire project”, he added .
What is importance of completing Ejipura flyover?
This road connects Madiwala, Koramangala,Ejipura and ultimately links Inner Ring Road which is heading to Indira Nagar. It is anticipated that one can travel from these areas within 20 minutes. Presently, there are extreme traffic congestions leading to huge delay such that at peak hours it takes an average person almost an hour to move through a six kilometer stretch which has this flyover. This flyover is expected to avoid choke-full junctions like Srinivagilu-Ejipura, Sony World Junction, Koramangala BDA Complex Junction, Madiwala-Sarjapur Water Tank Junction, Kendriya Sadan Junction and link southern-east Bangalore with western and eastern parts of the city later on.
