Bengaluru's first double-decker flyover set to fully open in mid-2025

BENGALURU: The city's first double-decker flyover, connecting Silk Board Junction with Ragigudda, is likely to be fully operational to motorists by mid-2025.
The lower tier of the double decker flyover is for vehicles, whereas the upper tier is part of Namma Metro's Yellow Line linking RV Road and Bommasandra.
In July 2024, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had partially opened the elevated road of the flyover by integrating it with ramps constructed over the Silk Board flyover. Traffic was allowed only in the direction of the Silk Board Junction.
For allowing movement of traffic in the opposite direction, BMRCL has now constructed most of the piers required to build a ramp from HSR Layout to BTM Layout. The new ramp will be integrated with the road flyover at Silk Board Metro station (built as part of the Yellow Line) for the benefit of those travelling towards Ragigudda and down ramp will be provided for those travelling towards BTM Layout.
A BMRCL officials said: "Barring four to five pillars required for building the ramp, the rest of the pillars are completed on a nearly one-kilometre stretch. As the ramp would traverse over Silk Board Junction and the newly constructed ramp (connecting Hosur Road), we have built 24-metre pillars to build the ramp from HSR Layout to BTM Layout. Once integrated with the existing road flyover on the BTM Layout side, motorists will be able to travel to Ragigudda Metro station without facing a traffic signal."
BMRCL has built the double-decker as part of the 19-km Yellow Line. However, the non-availability of Metro coaches has resulted in an inordinate delay in opening the line that connects Electronics City.
At Silk Board, BMRCL has plans to integrate two Metro stations. The Silk Board station, as part of the Yellow Line, is situated on the west side of the junction, and another station, which is part of the Blue Line (Silk Board to Kempegowda International Airport), is coming up on the east side. The distance between the stations is close to 300 metres. BMRCL will link both stations by building a travelator.
Will flyover rid B'luru of Silk Board taint?
The opening of the double decker flyover for motorists in both directions is expected to ease traffic congestion at Silk Board. The snarls at Silk Board is one of the most notorious infamies Bengaluru is associated with and has often been the crux of memes.
"Silk Board Junction is known as a major traffic gridlock. The partial opening of the double-decker has helped people heading towards HSR Layout and Hosur Road as they now avoid the traffic signal below the Silk Board flyover. Once motorists start using the double-decker flyover on the opposite side too, there will be a further drop in congestion. However, motorists coming from Hosur Road and moving towards HSR Layout and those heading towards Madiwala from the HSR Layout side will have to wait for the traffic signal," a BMRCL official said.
Traffic police, however, fear that the congestion would only shift to Marenahalli Road, which links RV Road and Kanakapura Road and runs up to Jayadeva hospital junction. A senior traffic cop said: " Once the double-decker becomes fully operational, it will help ease congestion at Silk Board. However, we fear traffic congestion will be shifted to Ragigudda Metro station, choking junctions near Sri Raghavendra Swamy Temple on Marenahalli Road and the junction near RV Road Metro station and others."
The official said the opening of the Yellow Line is crucial as there are possibilities of private vehicle users shifting to Namma Metro service.