Nitin Gadkari moots skybus to ease traffic in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari proposed a skybus service to reduce traffic congestion in the city. A skybus is similar to Metro but the primary difference is it runs above roads, on an elevated track with carriages suspended below.
"I've suggested to chief minister Basavaraj Bommai that skybus can be a good option in Bengaluru. It can seat up to 200 people and run above roads and in the air. We are planning a skybus service in Varanasi. There are only two companies in world - one in France and another in Austria - with skybus expertise. We'll ask an international consultant to prepare a preliminary report in three months which will be submitted to the chief minister. We'll then take the proposal forward," Gadkari said.
He was speaking at the 41st meeting of the Transport Development Council here on Friday. He also spoke to media on the occasion. "Another option for Bengaluru is the trolley-bus, which can accommodate up to 88 passengers. Those traveling by car and the IT crowd can comfortably switch to it," he said.
Gadkari also proposed multi-layer flyovers within the city to ease congestion. He said projects like Bengaluru-Mysuru, Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Vijayawada, Bengaluru-Pune and Satellite Town Ring Road expressway will ease pileups in the outer areas. "There are limitations in widening existing national highways within the city, so we are planning multi-layer elevated flyovers with Metro rail on the top deck," he explained.
HMVs on Tumakuru Rd flyover in three months
Heavy motor vehicles will be allowed on Goraguntepalya flyover on Tumakuru Road in three months.
In 2021, NHAI officials found that two cables had rusted at the 8th Mile on the flyover during an inspection. While it allowed LMVs after repair work, HMVS continued to be barred citing structural flaws. "Cables in the bridge need to be strengthened. The present contractor Navayuga is not in a position to fix it so we are getting another contractor. We will fix it in two-three months," he said .
Road-safety audits
Gadkari also urged state governments to conduct road-safety audits, pointing out that a majority of states, including Karnataka, are yet to implement various reforms in the transport sector.