The improvements address the safety concerns of pedestrians crossing the 60-metre-wide road, where fast-moving traffic on the main carriageway and service roads had made crossing difficult. The measures include pedestrian refuge islands in road medians and between the main carriageway and service roads, marked pedestrian crossings, reflective road studs, safety signboards and guard rails. Footpaths have also been improved to provide safer walking access.
Junction improvement works have been taken up at three locations: Byatarayanapura, Kodigehalli and Jakkur near GKVK. Around 80% of the work at Byatarayanapura and Kodigehalli has been completed. Work at Jakkur will be undertaken at a later stage due to ongoing Metro construction. NHAI is spending Rs 20 lakh at each junction.
The interventions are intended to provide designated crossing points and refuge areas, allowing pedestrians to cross the highway in stages instead of navigating multiple lanes of moving traffic at once.
Byatarayanapura and Kodigehalli were identified as recurring road accident blackspots in north Bengaluru. Between 2019 and 2023, the junctions recorded 11 and six fatalities, respectively, with pedestrians accounting for nearly 30% of the deaths, according to the Bengaluru traffic police road safety report.
The works were undertaken in coordination with the traffic police, Greater Bengaluru Authority and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, with technical support from WRI India under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety and Compartment S4.
The interventions include approximately 133 metres of safe pedestrian crossings, 240 sq. m of refuge areas and 1,600 sq. m of newly developed footpaths. Speed-calming measures, road markings, reflective studs and safety signage have also been installed to improve visibility and regulate vehicle speeds.
The need for such interventions is underscored by road accident figures. Karnataka recorded 4,278 fatalities on national highways in 2024, while Bengaluru reported 793 road deaths, including 140 on highway stretches.
