Whitefield comes closer

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Whitefield comes closer

[ SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2005 03:23:47 PM ]

sourced:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1049612.cms

The International Tech Park, state-of-the-art knowledge parks, the Sri Sathya

Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, EPIP, industrial zones, cargo main

base, international schools, medical and engineering colleges, massive

residential complexes... you name it and Whitefield has it. All these

developments have led to a huge growth in the number of people heading towards

Whitefield. Also, a large number of people who have made this locality their

home come into the other parts of the city daily. This highly potential area

for long needed good roads.

The Karnataka Public Works Department (KPWD), with a public-private

participation (PPP) scheme, and Assistance to States for Developing Export

Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) have taken up road upgradation

works from Marathahalli till the railway level crossing near the ashram of Sri

Sathya Sai Baba, a stretch of 8.5 km at a cost of Rs 16 crores. A part of this

stretch between Marathahalli and Varthur Kodi is almost complete with road

widening and the first layer of asphalting recently. "Another two layers of

asphalting, laying of storm water drains, putting up medians, constructing

culverts, and footpaths will be over in a few weeks' time", said S Anand,

Executive Engineer, ESI Division of KPWD.

Giving details about the project he said, "the road work was long pending and we

are happy that things are moving in a fast pace. The PPP funding towards this

project has come as a great help. The builders and corporates have promised Rs

11 crores in total, of which Rs 5 crores has already been deposited with us for

this road project.

The Whitefield Road will be of four lanes with a scientifically designed median.

Landscaping of the median and either sides of the road will also feature in the

project. Priority for aesthetics, modern signage, and footpaths of interlocked

cobbled blocks, high mast light for good visibility and two road-over-bridges -

one taken up by us on the Airport Road and the other by the railways at the

level cross are part of this project.

Earlier, a road-over-bridge at the level cross was planned and even the pillars

of the bridge were built. But later, it was stalled as it was supposed to be a

two-lane road-over-bridge that would end up as a bottleneck. Now we are

pressing for a four-lane road-over-bridge and the railways are considering the

proposal.

In exchange for the contributions to the project by the builders and the

corporates, advertisement space in traffic islands and medians would be

allotted to them proportionately for a period of ten years. The Executive

Engineer said that tenders for the remaining part of the stretch i.e. between

Varthur Kodi and the level cross is being finalised and the work will start in

another 15 days' time.

It may be recalled here that the Government had handed over the development of

the other road leading to Whitefield (Old Madras Road) to the Bangalore

Development Authority (BDA) last year. And the BDA developed this 8.6 km road

at a cost of Rs 8.60 crores. With the Varthur Road also being developed,

Whitefield will come much closer to the city.

Another road on anvil

A senior KPWD engineer said Whitefield will now get connected in all the

directions. He said the KPWD has chalked out a massive Rs 430 crores project to

develop roads in and around Bangalore. Under the new scheme, a 8-km road linking

Anekal Road, Kodi and Varthur will be developed at a cost of Rs 9.5 crores. This

road connects NH 4 to Anekal, and Tamil Nadu via Varthur and Dommasandra. He

added that once the BDA finalises the alignment of the Peripheral Ring Road,

the road network to Whitefield will come to a full circle.