JOIN USGovt to upgrade 3,411 km of State highways
Disclosing this to reporters on Friday, PWD Minister C M Udasi said the department has taken up upgrading of 827 km road under the first phase, with the assistance of the World Bank. While 269 kms will be developed through open competitive bidding, development of the remaining 557 km will be done through annuity basis. The Government will spend an estimated Rs 2.20 crore per km for developing road under the K-SHIP II, he added.
Under the annuity basis, the project cost incurred by the contractor will be paid in installments. Bangalore-Mysore Road was upgraded into a four-lane route under the annuity basis. Besides, the minister said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has come forward to upgrade 4,000 km of existing two-lane National Highways into four-lane NHs.
No decision
Minister Udasi said the Government has not taken any decision on whether to develop the controversial 10 km stretch of Mysore-Mananthawadi Road through the Nagarahole National Park or not under K-SHIP I. “We have not taken any decision yet. The Government will follow the directions of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court in this regard,” udasi told reporters.
The CEC had directed the Government to avoid development of the road that passes through the National Park and find an alternative route.
However, the Government is insisting on the road that passes through the Park.