Why long-delayed Ejipura flyover still isn’t ready for Bengaluru commuters

Bengaluru’s much-awaited 2.4-km Ejipura-Kendriya Sadan flyover has missed another completion deadline, with civic authorities now saying that the structure is likely to open for traffic only by the end of October. The project has become one of the city’s most delayed infrastructure works, affecting daily commuters travelling through some of the busiest traffic corridors in southeast Bengaluru.

Authorities had earlier announced that the flyover would be completed by June 2026 but when that target was missed, the deadline was revised to September. However, due to pending construction and unresolved bottlenecks, officials have once again extended the timeline.

One of the biggest hurdles delaying the Ejipura flyover project was a land-related issue near St. John's Medical College Hospital. According to officials, permissions required for construction of a crucial portal framework were pending for years. The issue was finally resolved in February after the hospital administration granted clearance, allowing work in the critical section to resume.

The officials have informed that construction activities have significantly accelerated after the clearance near St John’s Hospital was secured. The portal framework in that section was considered essential for connecting major portions of the flyover. Engineers overseeing the project now claim that with the major obstacle out of the way, the remaining work is progressing at a much faster pace than before.

The Ejipura flyover project was originally awarded in 2017 to Simplex Infrastructure Limited at a cost of Rs 203.2 crore. However, over four-and-a-half years, the contractor managed to complete only 42.8% of the work. Officials said inadequate machinery deployment, delays in execution and non-payment to subcontractors eventually caused construction to come to a complete halt.(Photo credit: AI image used for representational purpose)

Following prolonged delays and stalled work, the Karnataka high court intervened in the matter, after which authorities terminated the original contract in March 2022. The remaining construction work was later awarded to BSCPL Infrastructure Limited in November 2023. Civic authorities believe the contractor change helped revive the project.(Photo credit: AI image used for representational purpose)

Alongside flyover construction, authorities are also carrying out land acquisition and transfer procedures for nearly 5,998 square metres of private and government land. The acquired land, including portions linked to St John’s Hospital, will be used for road widening, improving traffic movement and building uniform pedestrian footpaths beneath the flyover corridor for safer public access.

(Photo credit: AI image used for representational purpose)