Despite the continuing debate over whether elevated corridors will actually decongest Bengaluru, the State has pressed ahead with all nine projects, with Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) awarding the tenders at 2.5% to 4.97% above their estimated costs.

The projects will be taken up under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode — where the government will fund 100% of a road project, and the contractor would handle the design, material sourcing, and physical building.

The list includes projects that have been virulently opposed by residents over concerns about loss of green cover, disruption to neighbourhoods and the impact of elevated structures on existing roads. One such project is the proposed corridor from Swami Vivekananda Metro Station via Indiranagar 100 Feet Road to Silk Board.

The project has been awarded to Haryana-based SP Singla Constructions Limited, which emerged as the lowest bidder. Estimated at ₹852 crore, the project has been awarded for ₹890 crore — ₹38 crore higher than the estimate.

The corridor will start at Swami Vivekananda Metro Station on Old Madras Road, make its way to Indiranagar 100 Feet Road, follow the Intermediate Ring Road, continue along the Ejipura Road Flyover to Hosur Road and then turn towards Silk Board. Existing flyovers, including the Domlur flyover and the Ejipura flyover, which has remained under construction for years, are planned to be “integrated” into the corridor.

Residents have argued that contrary to the 235 trees mentioned in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), more than 800 trees could be impacted by the project.

Maximum bids

Of the nine projects for which tenders were floated in May, the maximum number of bids, that is, five, were received for the elevated corridor proposed from Shoolay Circle, also known as Vellara Junction, towards St. John’s Junction via Adugodi along Hosur Road. The project was estimated to cost ₹519 crore and has been awarded to Hyderabad-based K.M.C. Constructions for ₹545 crore.

In total, 11 elevated corridors were planned under the project. Of these, tenders for nine were floated under the EPC model. The other two corridors, proposed under the same plan, will be tolled and taken up under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model — a 28-km elevated road from Yeshwantpur to Old Madras Road (Tin Factory Junction) via IISc and a 18.5-km elevated corridor from Marenahalli Main Road (Ragigudda Junction) to Kanakapura Main Road (Thalaghattapura Junction) via the BWSSB Pipeline Road corridor.

Defending the projects, B-SMILE technical director B.S. Prahallad said road widening was not possible in the city and that elevated corridors were therefore necessary. “To reduce traffic or decongest the city, the road network needs to expand or the number of vehicles needs to be reduced. This can only be done by coming up with elevated or underground options,” he said.

On the opposition to the corridor passing through Indiranagar 100 Feet Road, Mr. Prahallad said the alignment would be examined to determine what would be best.

Published - August 13, 2026 08:28 pm IST