Ground work on the proposed 250-km Intermediate Ring Road (IRR) around Bangalore is set to roll with the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways asking the state government to go ahead with land acquisition for the project.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting to review National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects in the state, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu said NHAI would take up a Detailed Project Report (DPR), to be moved later for Cabinet approval.

The land acquisition itself is estimated to cost between Rs 2,500 crore and Rs 3,000 crore, he added.
“The ring road will bring relief to the City that’s already reeling under heavy traffic. The project will be taken up under the third phase of the NHDP (National Highways Development Project),” the minister said.

The review meeting was attended by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Public Works Minister H D Revanna, Union Minister of State for Road Transport K H Muniyappa and senior bureaucrats.

The IRR will start at Nelamangala and pass through Dobbaspet, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli (aro-und four to five kilometres off the upcoming airport), Hoskote, Anekal, Harohalli, Bidadi, Magadi and back to Nelamangala.

International airport
Replying to questions on connectivity between the City and the upcoming international airport at Devanahalli, Baalu said the state government had requested for underpasses, overpasses and service roads.
Seven locations have also been identified under the plan — Devanahalli By-pass end, NH 7/NH 207 Junction, Betahalasuru, Vidyanagar, Yelahanka By-pass (beginning and end) and Kodigehalli. The projects will be taken up under NHDP Phase 7.

When pointed out that the DPR itself would take close to a year (the airport is scheduled to open on April 2, 2008), he said there was no alternative but to wait.

New Mangalore port
Baalu said the ministry had taken note of the delay in providing connectivity to the New Mangalore Port (from Suratkal on NH 17 and B C Road Junction on NH 48). In case of further delay, the contract will be terminated, he added.

The minister said upgradation of the damaged Shirdi Ghat section of NH 48 was in a limbo because there had been no response to the work tenders.

Around 670 km of NH is being taken up by NHAI for four/six laning under NHDP phase III. The NHAI has also taken up a feasibility study for the four/six laning of Kundapur-Karnataka/Goa border on NH 17 (192 km), Hassan-Mangalore section of NH 48 (137 km) and Hospet-Bellary section of NH 63 (70 km). 

WHAT STATE WANTS?
* Early start to Intermediate Ring Road
* Four-laning of Bangalore-Kolar-Mulbagal section
* Four-km elevated highway on Bangalore-Nelamangala section
*  Bijapur-Hospet link on NH 13
* Four-laning of Bellary-Hospet section on NH 63