Bengaluru: The opening of a newly built one-km link road connecting Deepanjali Nagar junction with NICE Road at Clover Leaf near Outer Ring Road remains uncertain, with the public works department (PWD) unlikely to grant permission amid an ongoing legal dispute with the project operator.The PWD took Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Ltd to court, alleging violations of the framework agreement governing the NICE Road project. According to the department, the agreement required the operator to construct a concrete road capable of withstanding heavy traffic movement but operator deviated from the agreed terms. Sources said the NICE operator approached the PWD about a month ago, seeking approval to open the road. Principal secretary (public works department) Amlan Aditya Biswas said: “They have not met the technical requirements of building the road as per the Framework Agreement on the construction of the road. The issues related to quality of the road and other aspects are sub-judice. We want the court to give us directions on how to proceed.” An official from NICE said the link road is already completed and permission to open it was sought from PWD. “Once opened, the road will help motorists avoid traffic congestion while accessing the Bengaluru–Mysuru access-controlled highway, especially near Nayandahalli stretch. It will also benefit commuters travelling towards Electronics City via NICE Road,” the official said. Toll is likely to be collected on the stretch, similar to other link roads on the corridor.Meanwhile, reactions were mixed after MD of NICE Ashok Kheny shared an aerial photograph of the completed link road on social media. While some users asked when the road would be opened, others criticised the toll charges.
