Peenya flyover, which had been closed for three years, will be re-opened on July 29th by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for heavy vehicles. However, some restrictions will continue.
On Tumakuru Road traffic jam where people were stuck in their cars, NHAI decided to open the Peenya flyover also known as Sri Shivakumara Swami flyover in north Bengaluru after being criticized by commuters.
Heavy motor vehicles may still not use the flyover on weekends due to ongoing special repair work. Until further notice, no heavy duty vehicle will be allowed onto the flyover from Friday 6 a.m. till Saturday 6 a.m.
Also, apart from this NHAI has imposed speed limit of 40 km/h as recommended. Heavy motor vehicles should occupy the left lane and it is only upon crossing over that all motorists shift their speeds to 40km/hr.
“After receiving permission from headquarters we have opened the four-point-two-km-long flyover to heavy vehicles,” said a senior official of NHAI adding that “the flyover will be closed for heavy vehicles from 6 am on Friday to 6 am on Saturday for cable grouting work.”
Traffic chaos follows three-year delay
During routine inspections made around December 25th, 2021 it was discovered that there were slippages of three pre-stressed cables in one span and one in another span hence there was prohibition of vehicle movement over the flyover by NHAi.
Earlier plans involved two-week long closure on traffic movement through Peenya Fly-over but NHAI extended its contract period due to motorists’ safety and consideration for bridge itself. Meanwhile road traffic came into disarray as people within Assembly chamber discussed about this NHAI’s late action
After more than fifty days people with light motor vehicles started being allowed across this bridge.
The Peenya flyover’s repair delay of approximately three years and the NHAI’s ban on heavy vehicles had caused traffic congestion along the major Tumakuru Road.
Tumakuru Road is used daily by thousands of vehicles including inter-state and intra-state buses. Consequently, both KSRTC and private buses took more time to travel at night because of accumulation near flyover.
Restriction to heavy vehicles led to massive traffic jam under the flyover especially from Goraguntepalya up until Parle-G toll gate. In 2023, NHAI started repairs with a budget of ₹38.5 crore.
Ask NHAI why there was delay in rehabilitation
However, motorists have not been happy with this decision given that many foresee huge traffic congestion below the bridge over weekends.
According to Manohar S., a resident of Jalahalli, “NHAI has been very problematic for everyday commuters due to its sluggishness in repairing the flyover promptly. The traffic problems have become worse as the delay was prolonged by them on this road. Moreover, congestion may worsen because of banning heavy vehicles on Fridays and Saturdays. From this it is clear that NHAI has not satisfactorily repaired the flyover”.
Another driver demanded an investigation into repairs to be conducted by the government and called for consultation with experts stating that there was no transparency from NHAI and it did not finish its job timely. “The delay in finishing followed by restrictions upon heavy vehicles, then ban only at weekends shows how inefficient NHAI is, endangering lives of my people; I call for both the State and Central Governments to look into what’s going on with that overpass,” Harish Kumar told journalists at Dasarahalli.
