The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is in the process of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed expressway that will link Banashankari with NICE Road. This 10-km stretch is estimated to cost around Rs 1,200 crore and will help alleviate traffic congestion, particularly for those heading towards Kanakapura, the hometown of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

In a letter to BBMP’s chief commissioner, Tushar Girinath, Shivakumar noted that Kanakapura Road, a significant connector for the city, has seen a surge in traffic, leading to commuter difficulties. He explained that, due to the presence of the Metro rail along this route, constructing a grade separator is not feasible. As a solution, the flyover over the pipeline road of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), running parallel to this road, has been proposed. The Chief Engineer of the BBMP Planning Centre has been directed to take swift action on preparing the feasibility and detailed project reports.

A senior engineer at BBMP added that tenders for the DPR will be called soon. According to the engineer, despite the double-decker flyover constructed by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) at Ragigudda, traffic snarls persist, and an expressway is proposed to address the congestion.

However, civic activist Kathyayini Chamaraj criticized the decision, expressing concern that it was made without consulting the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), which is responsible for the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). She emphasized that the government should prioritize projects like expanding the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation fleet and improving last-mile connectivity.