Work has begun on the Bengaluru Mekhri Circle-Hebbal corridor, a Rs 725-crore project planned to ease traffic on one of north Bengaluru’s busiest routes and strengthen connectivity to Kempegowda International Airport. The Bangalore Development Authority expects the project to be completed in 18 months, although progress on the tunnel component has been slowed by a case pending in the Karnataka High Court.
The integrated corridor will combine an elevated road and a tunnel rather than relying on a single structure along the entire route. The elevated section will run from Mekhri Circle to Baptist Hospital, while the tunnel road will extend from Baptist Hospital to a point beyond the Hebbal flyover.
The BDA has already started preliminary work, including soil testing. The project is expected to pass through or affect the Gangangara and Sanjaynagar areas. According to a report by the Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai cited in the source, the corridor could reduce traffic congestion by at least 60% and by as much as 80% along the affected route.
The elevated corridor is planned with two lanes in each direction. The tunnel section will have three lanes on each side. Near the end of the Veterinary College campus, two lanes in each direction will connect to the elevated corridor, while another lane will serve local traffic.
BDA chairman N.A. Harris said the project had been conceived as an integrated solution to reduce vehicular congestion. He said its objectives were to provide smoother traffic movement and strengthen connectivity between north Bengaluru and the airport.
The project’s total estimated cost of Rs 725 crore includes land acquisition, utility shifting and other overheads. The construction contract awarded to Aro-KMC JV is valued at about Rs 440 crore, excluding costs linked to other components of the project.
The corridor will also connect with the proposed Yeshwanthpur-K.R. Puram east-west corridor through a rotary arrangement at Mekhri Circle. The elevated road is expected to lead to this connection, adding another link to Bengaluru’s expanding network of grade-separated and cross-city routes.
Tree protection has emerged as a major consideration during the project’s preparation. The BDA has said it is attempting to transplant as many trees as possible. It has proposed cutting only about 50 to 60 trees that cannot be relocated, while discussions are continuing on whether even those trees can be saved.
The tunnel component remains subject to the outcome of the pending High Court case. The legal proceedings and the pace of preliminary work will therefore be important milestones as the BDA moves towards the project’s stated 18-month completion target.
