In a significant relief for Bengaluru's commuters, the long-delayed additional ramp on the Hebbal flyover has finally opened for trial traffic. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) completed the 1.2-kilometer structure, which was inaugurated for public use on Saturday evening, marking a pivotal step in decongesting one of the city's most notorious traffic bottlenecks.
A Project Delivered in Two Crucial Phases
The construction of the ramp was executed in two distinct phases. The first phase, a 1-kilometer stretch integrated with the KR Pura loop from the Baptist Hospital side, was opened to motorists as early as August 18. This section primarily benefited vehicles travelling from Nagawara towards Mehkri Circle.
The recently completed second phase extended this ramp by an additional 220 meters. This extension now connects seamlessly with the Tumakuru Road loop inside Tree Park. The entire elevated structure is supported by a robust foundation of 33 piers. A BDA official stated that final touches, including constructing a barrier to separate the new ramp from the existing airport-bound flyover, will be completed within three days. This separation is critical to streamline traffic flow and prevent potential bottlenecks.
Immediate Impact and Future Traffic Patterns
The new infrastructure is set to bring substantial relief to residents and daily commuters from areas like Yelahanka, Jakkur, Sanjaynagar, and Kempapura. Officials have already observed a promising trend: following the opening of the first phase alone, there was a noticeable 25–30% reduction in traffic volume at the Hebbal junction. This positive effect is anticipated to strengthen once the entire ramp becomes fully operational.
However, authorities caution that some traffic congestion may shift downstream to Mehkri Circle. This is because a planned road-widening project by the Greater Bengaluru Metropolitan Area Development Authority, intended to handle the increased flow, has not yet been implemented.
From Conception to Reality: A Long Road
The journey of this ramp has been fraught with delays. First proposed in 2015, the project saw repeated setbacks before being revived two-and-a-half years ago with a revised design. Initial ambitious plans to extend the ramp all the way from Baptist Hospital to Esteem Mall were eventually scaled back due to practical traffic and logistical constraints.
This ramp is just one component of a broader strategy to untangle Hebbal's traffic. The BDA has outlined an ambitious blueprint for the area, which includes:
- A new flyover connecting Nagawara to NH-44.
- A unidirectional underpass from Tumakuru Road to Nagawara.
- A major 2.2-kilometer cut-and-cover tunnel from Hebbal to Veterinary College, estimated to cost a staggering Rs 2,125 crore. Initially proposed by B-Smile, this tunnel project will now be executed by the BDA itself to ease traffic towards Mehkri Circle and benefit residents along Ballari Road.
The opening of the Hebbal ramp represents a concrete, though delayed, victory in Bengaluru's ongoing battle against crippling traffic congestion, offering a glimpse of hope for more systematic infrastructure solutions in the future.
