If all goes according to plan, a stretch of National Highway 212 (Mysuru-Nanjangud road) that leads to Mysore airport at Mandakalli will be beautified on the lines of the road that leads to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at Devanahalli in Bengaluru.

Mysuru Mayor B L Bhyrappa said that a French firm had evinced interest in developing the airport road, surroundings of Amba Vilas Palace and KRS Road. It is estimated to cost Rs 100 crore, with the French firm investing 90 per cent of the cost and the Central and State governments sharing the rest.

They have evinced interest in promoting solar energy and other environmentally friendly projects in the city. The mayor said it was the commitment of the private firm during the Invest Karnataka meet held recently. A clear picture is expected to emerge when the mayor visits France (on invitation) on February 21.

Betsurmath said the United Nations International Development Organisation, under its Global Environmental Facility, has selected five cities in India — Mysuru, Vijayawada and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh and Jaipur in Rajasthan. Priority-wise, the organisation will spend $13.5 million (Rs 100 crore) to develop the cities.

That apart, Betsurmath has been invited to Singapore on March 1. He is expected to seek expertise in management of solid waste, streetlights and generation of alternative energy from waste.