The Jakkur-Amruthahalli main road in Bengaluru has remained closed for nearly three months because a drainage culvert project near the MCECHS Layout and Amruthahalli 18th Cross has not been completed, forcing thousands of vehicles through narrower alternative roads and worsening congestion in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The road falls within the Byatarayanapura Assembly constituency and connects Jakkur, Yelahanka, Sampigehalli Agrahara, Chokkanahalli and nearby areas. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) excavated the road for construction of a culvert leading to a stormwater drain, but the excavation has remained open while the work is incomplete, according to a report by Prajavani.
Traffic has increased further after the Jakkur flyover reached near-completion and vehicles began using it on a trial basis. At the same time, white-topping work from Jakkur Kempegowda Circle to the Amruthahalli main road has been completed over a distance of about 800 metres. Footpath construction and the installation of slabs over drains are still pending in parts of the stretch.
With the main road blocked, vehicles travelling towards Amruthahalli are being diverted through Jakkur Layout, Ballari Main Road and other connecting routes. The diversion has created heavy congestion near the Shanaishchara Swamy Temple junction. Residents told Prajavani that traffic police deployment at the junction was inadequate and that vehicles were moving irregularly through the intersection.
The closure has also shifted through-traffic into narrow residential roads. Jakkur residents said dust has accumulated outside homes because of the increased vehicle movement on damaged roads. They also raised safety concerns for children and elderly residents. Congestion has been reported near Jakkur village, Srirampura Cross, Amruthahalli 18th Cross and the Jakkur petrol pump junction, where vehicles raise dust while travelling over the deteriorated surface.
GBA ‘B-Smile’ division assistant engineer Ramesh said the culvert work had been delayed because construction was being carried out between K.V. Jayaram Road and Amruthahalli 18th Cross, where the structure connects to a stormwater drain. He said officials had been instructed to expedite the work and that the drainage construction would be completed within a week.
GBA assistant executive engineer Shivakumar attributed the delay to modifications made to the culvert construction after Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board work related to Cauvery water and underground drainage was completed. He said the work would be finished within a week and the road would then be reopened to traffic.
The promised one-week completion timeline is the next milestone for residents and daily commuters using the Jakkur-Amruthahalli corridor. Until the culvert is completed and the road is opened, traffic will continue to rely on residential streets and alternate junctions around Jakkur.
