Bengaluru’s Elevated Corridor Sparks Concerns

A proposed ₹1,300-crore elevated corridor between Swami Vivekananda Metro Station on Old Madras Road and Silk Board Junction in Bengaluru has come under scrutiny from residents and civic groups.

The proposed corridor is around 11.6 km long and is being developed by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE). According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the route would pass through areas including Indiranagar, Domlur, Koramangala and Madiwala before reaching Silk Board Junction. The project has been proposed to address congestion along one of Bengaluru’s busy traffic routes.

However, residents have raised several questions about the project. Members of the I Change Indiranagar residents’ group have questioned the proposed alignment, the traffic data used for planning and whether the corridor is consistent with Bengaluru’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) 2020.

Residents said the CMP 2020 does not specifically identify roads such as 80 Feet Road, 100 Feet Road and CMH Road as routes for an elevated corridor. They have therefore asked authorities to explain how the proposed project fits into the city’s wider mobility plan.

Citizens have also questioned the traffic studies used in preparing the DPR. According to the residents’ group, the corridor would cross several major junctions, but some traffic measurements were taken from limited locations. They have argued that more detailed studies of traffic movement, pedestrians and ground-level roads are needed before the project moves forward.

Another concern is the design of the corridor. The proposed route includes elevated sections, ramps, existing flyovers and stretches where traffic will continue to operate at ground level. The DPR has also examined toll collection but reportedly found it difficult to implement because of the fragmented nature of the corridor and insufficient tollable traffic.

Instead, the DPR has suggested a value-capture financing model to help fund the project. Under this proposal, properties that benefit from improved connectivity could contribute towards the project through a dedicated mechanism. B-SMILE later clarified that the proposed financing mechanism was still at the draft stage and that no levy had been imposed on property owners.

The government’s stated objective is to reduce congestion and improve connectivity between eastern and southern parts of Bengaluru. The DPR notes that traffic speeds on the existing route can fall to around 20–25 kmph and that traffic volumes are expected to increase significantly in the coming decades.

Residents, however, want authorities to examine whether an elevated corridor is the most suitable solution and how traffic will be managed on the roads below it. They have also raised concerns about possible effects on existing infrastructure, pedestrians and neighbourhoods along the proposed route.

The project has therefore become a subject of public discussion, with authorities promoting it as a congestion-relief measure while residents seek greater clarity about its planning, design, traffic impact and integration with Bengaluru’s broader mobility strategy.

Further studies, public consultation and decisions by the relevant authorities will determine how the proposed corridor moves forward.