Caught in a Limbo: Mahadevapura chokes under delayed flyovers and infrastructure projects

Mahadevapura, home to some of the city’s largest IT hubs and fastest-expanding residential clusters, is suffocating under traffic bottlenecks that were flagged but unresolved almost a decade ago.

A number of flyovers, elevated corridors and grade dividers planned for East Bengaluru by multiple State highways agencies, including the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), have either stalled midway or moved slowly, leaving commuters navigating incomplete infrastructure in key areas like Dommasandra, Varthur Kodi and Panathur.

Almost a decade ago, KRDCL had announced plans for an elevated corridor through Varthur district with grade dividers at important junctions such as Dommasandra, Varthur Kodi and a railway underbridge at Kadugodi. At the time, these projects were envisioned as long-term solutions to East Bengaluru’s growing congestion caused by the boom in housing developments, schools, tech parks and commercial establishments. However, many of these works have since drifted into limbo, where deadlines are repeatedly revisited but rarely met.

In Mahadevapura district alone, several infrastructure projects, including the Carmelaram railway overbridge (RoB) at Panathur junction, are currently stuck in various stages of implementation. Despite constant follow-up by citizen groups and local representatives, progress has remained slow due to delayed payments to contractors, land acquisition obstacles, and repeated design revisions.

Shwetha M., a resident of Varthur, said: “Long delays have had a cascading impact on daily life. We drive for hours over short distances, dust pollution from stalled construction sites has worsened air quality in the area, and narrow, damaged roads have become accident-prone. While agencies continue to cite technical and administrative challenges, lack of coordinated planning has turned critical corridors into permanent choke points for us residents.”

Dommasandra flyover

One of the most visible symbols of stalled infrastructure is the Dommasandra flyover on Sarjapur Road, a major artery connecting the Dommasandra Circle with Carmelaram and Kadugodi. Proposed nearly five years ago to decongest the corridor, the overpass was aimed at relieving heavy traffic generated by schools, apartment complexes and commercial establishments, while also improving connectivity to Electronics City and other employment hubs.

Construction of the flyover began several years ago but was repeatedly halted due to difficulties in acquiring private land and problems with contractors. The project site remained idle for a long time, with partially built structures rusting and construction debris contributing to dust pollution along the busy road. The flyover was not completed as of December 2025, although work resumed in late 2023 after land acquisition issues came close to being resolved.

The impact on passengers was severe. “Motorists often lose 20 to 30 minutes on a road that should only take a few minutes. School buses are frequently delayed, and even workplaces have started complaining about disruptions due to poor accessibility. Congestion during peak hours routinely spills over into inner residential roads, further exacerbating traffic chaos in the area,” said Akash Kamath, a resident of the same area.

Varthur Kodi

Moreover, the widening of Varthur-Gunjur Road and the construction of the elevated corridor at Varthur Kodi also continue to progress rapidly. Officials acknowledge that disruption for motorists and residents is expected for at least two more years, with land acquisition emerging as the biggest disruption, pushing the project’s completion time to 2027.

The project, approved in 2016-17, is being executed by KRDCL and covers a 1.92 km, 60 feet wide elevated area from Varthur Kodi Lake to Vinayaka Theatre. The plan includes widening the existing 30-metre track to around 100 metres, widening the mini flyover at Varthur Kodi, integrating a double-decker structure and meeting railway alignment requirements.

However, officials argue that these features increase the complexity of the project and significantly extend execution times.

Progress on the ground remains limited, with drainage works and selective demolitions making up most of the visible activity. These pending acquisitions have slowed the entire corridor and created uncertainty for thousands of commuters who rely heavily on State Highway-35 as a major connection point.

However, KRDCL officials said that the work has improved marginally compared to the previous year, further pointing to the progress achieved through the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) issued by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA).

Panathur – Balagere

Panathur and Balagere have seen some relief recently with the opening of an expanded S-Cross junction and a railway underpass widened into two vents. The improved infrastructure initially improved traffic flow, especially for passengers traveling towards the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and nearby technology parks.

However, residents say traffic is starting to increase again, especially during the morning rush hour. Many argued that the intervention would have been much more effective had it been implemented when it was first proposed, and that it was inadequate to cope with today’s density and future growth.

(This is the third in a multi-part series)

It was published – 17 December 2025 07:00 IST