Silk Board double-decker flyover ramps set for February completion

Nearly a year and a half after major portions of the double-decker flyover along Namma Metro’s Yellow Line were opened to traffic, key segments of the structure remain incomplete, limiting its effectiveness in easing congestion around the busy Central Silk Board junction. Officials, however, have indicated that the remaining stretch is likely to be operational by the end of this month.

The 5.12-km double-decker flyover, constructed by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) at an estimated cost of ₹449 crore, was envisioned as a transformative project to streamline vehicular movement at one of Bengaluru’s most notorious traffic bottlenecks. While the primary signal-free corridor connecting Ragigudda to Silk Board junction was inaugurated in July 2024, crucial ramps linking HSR Layout with Ragigudda and BTM Layout are still under development.

In particular, a 1.37-km stretch of ramps that would enable seamless connectivity between HSR Layout, Ragigudda, and BTM Layout remains inaccessible. The delay has rendered a significant portion of the flyover underutilised, forcing commuters to continue relying on congested surface roads.

Reasons for the delay

According to a senior BMRCL official, civil works on the pending ramps are progressing steadily. “We are currently completing the concrete slab casting and associated structural works on the remaining ramps. Our teams are working on a priority basis, and we are aiming to finish the civil components by the end of February. Once that is achieved, the stretch will be opened to traffic at the earliest,” the official said.

One of the factors contributing to the delay was the installation of a 42-m steel bridge over the existing roadway, which required intricate engineering coordination alongside the elevated metro viaduct. The double-decker structure integrates road infrastructure with the Yellow Line’s elevated corridor and passes through key points such as Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout, and Silk Board junction. The project includes five ramps in total, designed to facilitate smooth traffic dispersal.

Criticism from daily commuters

Currently, ramps A, B, and C are operational. Ramp A connects the Ragigudda metro station to Hosur Road, while ramp B diverges from ramp A towards HSR Layout. Ramp C links BTM Layout to Hosur Road and HSR Layout via ramp A.

However, ramps D and E, both critical for direct connectivity, are yet to be completed. Ramp D, planned above ramp A and the metro viaduct, will offer a direct elevated link from HSR Layout to Ragigudda. Ramp E is intended to descend from the HSR Layout towards BTM Layout.

The prolonged delay has triggered criticism from daily commuters who say the project has not fully delivered on its promise. Sreekar Prasad, a resident of Ragigudda, said motorists continue to struggle with peak-hour congestion. “Because the ramps are incomplete, we are still forced to use the crowded surface roads, especially near BTM Layout and Silk Board. If BMRCL manages to open the remaining stretch by February, it will greatly benefit those of us travelling from the HSR Layout side. At present, we are stuck in heavy traffic during peak hours due to the unfinished work,” he said.