Bengaluru will have still steel bridge but this time at Shivananda Circle

A steel flyover at Shivananda Circle approved. Work to commence immediately. Tender revised to Rs 19 crores from 17.5 crores The government was forced to withdraw steel bridge earlier proposed from Chalukya Circle to Airport

There is something about steel bridges that attracts the State government. Despite dropping the earlier proposed Rs 2,000 crore steel bridge from Chalukya Circle to the International Airport, following a huge public protest, the Cabinet on Wednesday approved a smaller version of the it. This 'small' steel bridge is expected to connect Janardhan Hotel and Gandhi Bhavan through Shivananda Circle. The administration approval has already been sanctioned for the project which will cost Rs 19 crores and the works will commence, soon, reports Kannada Prabha.

It may be recalled here that the steel bridge that was planned earlier from Chalukya Circle to International Airport was met with severe opposition after the Namma Bengaluru Foundation's RTI query revealed - after initial rejection - the Bengaluru Development Authority's 'secretive' way to carry out the project.

Over 8,000 citizens formed a human chain to protest against the proposed 6.7 km long steel flyover which the government strongly claimed that traffic time would be reduced considerably. However, the government was forced to withdraw the project claiming it was "Bengaluru's loss."

The 'small' flyover project was first conceived in 2011 as a four-lane bridge of 16 m wide and 310 meter long at a an estimated cost of Rs 17.5. There were no takers at that time. However, it has now been revised and estimated at Rs 19 crores, with an escalation of 35 per cent. Added to this, expenses to acquire land and shifting of utilities will take it to around Rs 50 crores, it is said. This is being expected to reduce the traffic bottlenecks on the stretch. Also, at least 26 trees would be cut for the project, it is reported.