The Karnataka state government has proposed constructing a 2 km-long elevated flyover across Bangalore University’s Jnana Bharathi campus. The structure would connect Mysuru Road to Ullal Road, aiming to reroute through-traffic away from the campus core and alleviate congestion. timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com+1
Why is this proposed?
- The campus hosts over 4,000 students and 54 academic departments, and student safety and well-being have been severely impacted.
- Heavy vehicular movement during morning and evening hours has led to frequent accidents, noise pollution, and a general disruption of the academic environment. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Both students and staff say campus life is being significantly affected:
- Aishwarya R, a postgraduate student, shared: “Even late at night, we hear constant honking and noise from vehicles that use the campus as a shortcut…” bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com+2
- Vivek S, a final-year B.Com student, added that the campus “turns into a parking lot” during rush hours, even blocking classroom entrances. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Official position & Planning Process
- Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar highlighted that “no other university allows public vehicle movements inside its campus,” advocating for the flyover as a safer alternative. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- The government has tasked its officials with preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR), describing the flyover as likely to resemble a metro corridor in design and scope. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Funding is a major constraint—BU itself lacks the necessary budget, so coordination with the Deputy Chief Minister is underway to secure financial backing. timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1
Support from University Leadership
- BU Vice-Chancellor S M Jayakar has endorsed the project, stating that a complete ban on public vehicles isn’t viable and that the flyover could be “highly beneficial” in balancing university needs with public infrastructure. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
📝 Summary
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Problem | Rising public vehicle traffic on campus → accidents, noise, parking chaos |
| Proposal | Build a 2 km elevated flyover across Jnana Bharathi campus |
| Benefits | Diverts through-traffic, improves safety & campus environment |
| Challenges | High project cost, needs state funding; university budget is insufficient |
| Next Steps | Finalize DPR; secure funding; begin construction planning |
🔍 What comes next?
- Completion of the DPR, including technical and financial feasibility.
- Funding decisions by the state government, potentially backed by central agencies.
- Stakeholder engagement—especially students and faculty—on design and campus impact.
