GBA is exploring a new technique for rapid construction of the Jalahalli underpass

The underpass at Jalahalli Cross is crucial as it serves as a key junction for inter-state and inter-district buses. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) plans to use a new technique to build the much-delayed and debated Jalahalli underpass in north Bengaluru, with officials saying the construction could be completed in less than 50 days.

M. Maheshwar Rao, chief commissioner, GBA, said the authority plans to install corrugated structures, prefabricated elsewhere, at the intersection. This could reduce construction time and allow for smoother traffic at one of the busiest intersections in the city.

Mr. Rao said that the idea was proposed by a private group and that it appeared to be feasible and time-efficient. “We are seriously considering the technique, with an improvised design to suit local conditions if necessary,” he said.

According to Mr. Rao, prefabrication and other preparatory work could take about a month, while ground work would require less than 20 days, causing minimal disruption to traffic. He added that the technique was earlier used for a railway underpass project in another state.

If the GBA goes ahead with the new technique, it will be the second time a Bengali civic body has attempted to build an underpass using such a time-saving method.

A successful past attempt

In 2007, the former Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) attempted to construct the Cauvery Junction underpass in 72 hours (three days), but ended up completing the work in nine days. On the 11th, traffic was allowed.

KS Krishnareddy, the then chief highway engineer in the BBMP, told The Hindu that the underpass was built as a quick fix to traffic congestion and was supposed to last five to eight years, but it survived much longer.

“We used prefabricated segmental boxes to construct the underpass, which ensured the quality of the concrete under controlled conditions. We were the first in the country to use this technique to construct the underpass,” he said.

He said the work could have been completed within 72 hours, but the team encountered a leaking water pipe. Officials assumed the line would not contain water because it was a defunct water main.

Renewed Hope

As the planning of the junction gathers pace, hopes for the implementation of the Jalahalli underpass project have strengthened. The project was planned in 2019, but its implementation stopped due to problems with the purchase of land. It has joined the list of the city’s most talked-about infrastructure projects after remaining on hold for more than half a decade. Although the project is now seeing renewed hopes, 26 properties are still to be acquired.

The underpass at the junction is crucial as it serves as a key junction for inter-state and inter-district buses. Therefore, GBA must ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated time. The move is particularly important as planning permission has also been refused in the past due to the massive traffic disruption it would cause.

For example, the Wind Tunnel Junction underpass was delayed for more than five years because of its potential impact on traffic in the area. Even now, it is unlikely that its construction will be completed before the deadline.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 22:05 IST