After a gap of more than five months, the authorities are likely to allow heavy vehicles like buses, trucks and others on the Gorguntepalya flyover (Penya flyover). However, multi-axle trucks carrying heavy loads will not be allowed.
Chandra Kishan JM, Department of Civil Engineering, IISc, who is part of an expert committee, said, “Recently, we participated in a meeting with the board members of NHAI. There, I told them that heavy vehicles such as legally permitted load-carrying buses and normal trucks could be allowed on the flyover. However, overloaded trucks and multi-axle trucks carrying heavy materials such as granite and others should not be permitted. An expert committee will decide the way forward and make necessary recommendations to NHAI.
In December 2021, authorities banned vehicular movement on the flyover after NHAI officials found safety issues with the cables of the two spans during routine inspections. NHAI had missed several deadlines to fix the problem and faced the wrath of motorists who spent long hours in traffic.
After a long wait, only light motor vehicles were allowed on the flyover in mid-February. Due to the ban on heavy vehicles on the flyover, there is a jam situation under the flyover from Gorgutenapalaya to Parle G toll gate.
Thousands of vehicles, including hundreds of inter-state and inter-state buses, use the road daily. At night, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and other private buses take a long time to cross the stretch.
DCP West (Traffic) Kuldeep Kumar R. Jain said, “The traffic police will allow movement of heavy vehicles on the flyover after getting clearance from the NHAI officials. We have not received any written communication yet. We had banned the movement of heavy vehicles on the flyover keeping in mind the safety issues, as a result of which there is heavy traffic pressure on the main lane under the flyover. Every day thousands of vehicles use Tumakuru Road which also connects industrial centers and residential areas. Slow moving traffic is difficult to manage and we are managing it by deploying more traffic police.
Recently, the traffic police had also asked the NHAI officials to fix all the faulty street lights on the flyover.
“Health Survey” of all flyovers in the city
The city’s civic body has roped in a third-party agency to conduct a “health survey” of all the flyovers in the city. “We carried out this exercise for the first time in 2019. It’s been three years, we have again ordered a survey of all flyovers. The agency will examine the structural issues, security and other issues and submit a report, based on which any necessary action will be taken,” said Ravindra PN, special commissioner (projects), BBMP.
Sources said the survey has been ordered after structural issues posing safety risk at Goraguntepalya flyover and waterlogging was noticed on Sirsi circle flyover during rains. “It is a periodic exercise that we need to do,” a senior official said.