When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently engaged with users on X, inviting prompts to utilize the company’s experimental tool, Sora, for converting text into videos, the response exceeded expectations. Among the myriad of requests, one stood out from the popular “Peak Bengaluru” account, known for its focus on the startup hub of India.

Source: Bangalore Mirror

The request? A video portraying the completed Ejipura flyover, an unfinished structure that has lingered over Bangalore for nearly seven years, earning the nickname “Bangalore Stonehenge” on Google Maps. 

Full Story: 

The “Peak Bengaluru” account, recognized for its coverage of Bengaluru’s startup scene, seized the opportunity to engage with Altman. Their request was distinctive: a video rendering of the Ejipura flyover, an incomplete structure in the southern reaches of the city. This flyover, often likened to the “Bangalore Stonehenge” due to its prolonged construction and unfinished state, has become a headline in the urban planning challenges.

Source: Swarajya

The Ejipura flyover, situated near the upscale Koramangala locality, has puzzled residents and commuters for almost seven years. Despite its initial purpose to alleviate traffic congestion by linking Ejipura and Madiwala, progress on the flyover has been sluggish since its inception in 2017. The stalled construction has sparked debates and frustrations among locals, with a reminder of infrastructural setbacks.

Last July, the flyover briefly garnered attention when images of installed streetlights circulated online. However, this fleeting moment of progress only highlighted the prolonged stagnation of the project. Despite irregular efforts to advance the construction, the Ejipura flyover remains a testament to bureaucratic hurdles and planning oversights. Altman’s call for prompts to test Sora’s capabilities resonated widely, prompting a flurry of responses beyond Bengaluru-centric themes. The internet community joined in the amusement, suggesting diverse scenarios and topics for Sora to visualize. 

Source: Times of India

The Ejipura flyover embodies broader narratives of urban development challenges and bureaucratic inefficiencies prevalent in rapidly growing cities like Bengaluru. Its prolonged construction underscores the complexities of infrastructure projects and the need for effective planning and execution strategies.