Panathur Main Road to Reopen on November 17 After 35-Day White-Topping Work
Bengaluru:
In a major relief to thousands of daily commuters in the ORR–Panathur–Varthur belt, the much-awaited Panathur Main Road is set to reopen for traffic on Monday, November 17.
The Bengaluru East City Corporation has completed white-topping of the key stretch — from the railway underpass until Bhoganahalli Main Road — in about 35 days, bringing an end to weeks of detours and severe congestion.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), confirming the reopening, posted on X: “The white topping work undertaken by the BBMP on Panathur Main Road in the limits of HAL Airport Traffic Police Station has been completed and will be opened for smooth public traffic November 17 – Monday.”
The project had initially faced delays due to pending work by multiple utilities, including KPTCL, BWSSB and BESCOM. The BTP had earlier stated: “Due to KPTCL, BWSSB, BESCOM works, the Panathur road work is getting delayed. The road opening date will be intimated shortly.”
White-topping officially began on October 10, with all vehicular movement prohibited for 21 days to facilitate faster execution. While initial stages were slow, the project gained momentum later.
Officials attribute the acceleration to newly introduced governance structures — the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Bengaluru East City Corporation — created by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to fast-track infrastructure projects in the outer zones.
Mahadevapura MLA Manjula Aravind Limbavalli also played a key role by convincing property owners to part with required land. The government agreed to offer cash compensation instead of Transferable Development Rights (TDR), easing longstanding resistance and clearing the way for BBMP to move ahead.
Panathur Main Road is a vital connector for thousands of tech professionals living in Panathur, Balagere, Gunjur, Chikkabellandur and surrounding clusters, providing access to the Outer Ring Road and major tech parks in Bellandur and Marathahalli.
Even as they welcome the reopening, citizens have flagged several pending needs: Widening of Entry and Exit to Balagere Road (Connecting SH-35), Upgrading SH-35 Between Gunjur and Varthur Kodi, Widening Gunjur CDP Road (SH-35 to ORR Near New Horizon College), Widening Chikkabellandur CDP Road (Sarjapur Road to Kundalahalli Gate via Ginger Palya).