DK Shivakumar to take up Centre’s concerns on double-decker flyovers along Bengaluru Metro corridors with Union minister

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar

• Centre questions Karnataka's double-decker metro plan
• Approval for Hebbal-Sarjapur corridor delayed over design issues
• State to discuss technical objections with Union Minister

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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on February 12 said he will discuss with the Union Minister the Centre’s concerns over building end-to-end double-decker flyovers along Metro corridors.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported that the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has raised reservations over Karnataka’s policy of constructing double-decker structures-road flyovers on the first level with Metro lines above-along entire stretches of proposed corridors. The ministry is understood to have flagged that such designs could dilute the purpose of a mass transit system by encouraging parallel road infrastructure.

The report, titled ‘Karnataka’s double-decker metro policy delays Centre’s approval for Hebbal–Sarjapur corridor’, stated that the project is awaiting approval amid these concerns.

Also, read: Karnataka’s double-decker metro policy delays Centre’s approval for Hebbal-Sarjapur corridor

Following the report, Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan wrote on X that Karnataka’s “blanket double-decker rule” had stalled the Centre’s approval for Hebbal-Sarjapur Metro corridor. He said MoHUA had cautioned that full-length road and Metro stretches could weaken mass transit gains and urged BMRCL to revisit the design and justify its viability.

“A double-decker may be justified at select junctions. But extending it across an entire corridor risk creating parallel infrastructure, encouraging private vehicle use, reducing Metro ridership, and weakening anticipated social benefits including lower congestion and pollution,” Mohan said.

Responding to the concerns, Shivakumar said the Prime Minister had personally reviewed the double-decker flyover project in Bengaluru. “Karnataka government bears 50 percent of the cost of the double-decker project, while the rest is borne by BMRCL. We are implementing this because it is difficult to widen roads in the city. The Centre has said that double-decker projects must continue, and we are proceeding accordingly. The Centre may have sought a review of technical aspects,” he said.

On the argument that double-decker flyovers could reduce Metro ridership, Shivakumar said Metro users and road users are different segments. “Traffic congestion is increasing day by day in Bengaluru. Double-decker flyovers are essential as road widening is not feasible and demolition would be very expensive. If there are any issues, I will discuss them with Union Minister (for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar)” he said. Shivakumar said the state government is open to discussing any technical objections raised by the Centre.