<p>Bengaluru: The new cabinet sub-committee — being formed to re-examine contentious issues pertaining to the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) — may resolve the deadlock over two key proposals: the question of reviving the 110-km <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bengaluru">Bengaluru</a>–Mysuru expressway and the proposal to build a 13-km link road to Bidadi. </p>.<p>Although these projects were part of the original framework agreement with NICE, they never took off. </p>.<p>An empowered committee headed by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, which met just two days before the Cabinet meeting, discussed these projects along with the contentious issue of transferring additional land.</p>.<p>Ashok Kheny, Managing Director of NICE, was also present at the meeting, it’s learnt. </p>.<p>During the meeting, the chief secretary questioned the delay on the part of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in transferring 1,916 acres of land to NICE, despite the issuance of the final notification. The committee also reviewed the missing links in the Peripheral Ring Road caused by land-related hurdles.</p>.Brand Bengaluru’s beautification drive sparks sustainability debate.<p><strong>No Objection Certificate sought</strong></p>.<p>Since the Bidadi Integrated Township project and NICE proposals overlap, Rajneesh directed the Urban Development Department (UDD) to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangalore–Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP). However, sources said the BMICP was incorrectly listed as BMRC in the proceedings. </p>.<p>The KIADB and Public Works and Revenue Departments were directed not to delay the projects further, particularly with regard to completing the stretches between Mysuru Road and Hosakerehalli Junction, and between Sunkadakatte and Kadabagere. NICE has also sought <br>7-15 acres of land for setting up casting yards and stacking areas. </p>.<p>The delay in completing the 13-km link road to Bidadi was also discussed. </p>.<p>“This stretch could have been finished in six months. Officials responsible for the delay should be held accountable,” the meeting chaired by Rajneesh resolved. </p>.<p><strong>Detailed report</strong></p>.<p>The principal secretary of the Revenue Department has been asked to submit a detailed report. </p>.<p>The Forest Department has been asked to provide 68.215 acres of forest land for the NICE project, although its exact location is not known.</p>.<p>The empowered committee also took up a long-pending proposal by NICE to acquire 10,000 acres of land for the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway. </p>.<p>Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is also in support of this project, stating that the new access-controlled highway built by the NHAI is badly designed. </p>.<p>However, multiple sources noted that the empowered committee overlooked several court directives, departmental inputs, affidavits submitted by the government and prior recommendations from various legislative and cabinet sub-committees.</p>.<p>This may have prompted the government to consider a detailed review by a newly constituted cabinet sub-committee, it is learnt.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The new cabinet sub-committee — being formed to re-examine contentious issues pertaining to the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) — may resolve the deadlock over two key proposals: the question of reviving the 110-km <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bengaluru">Bengaluru</a>–Mysuru expressway and the proposal to build a 13-km link road to Bidadi. </p>.<p>Although these projects were part of the original framework agreement with NICE, they never took off. </p>.<p>An empowered committee headed by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, which met just two days before the Cabinet meeting, discussed these projects along with the contentious issue of transferring additional land.</p>.<p>Ashok Kheny, Managing Director of NICE, was also present at the meeting, it’s learnt. </p>.<p>During the meeting, the chief secretary questioned the delay on the part of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in transferring 1,916 acres of land to NICE, despite the issuance of the final notification. The committee also reviewed the missing links in the Peripheral Ring Road caused by land-related hurdles.</p>.Brand Bengaluru’s beautification drive sparks sustainability debate.<p><strong>No Objection Certificate sought</strong></p>.<p>Since the Bidadi Integrated Township project and NICE proposals overlap, Rajneesh directed the Urban Development Department (UDD) to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangalore–Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP). However, sources said the BMICP was incorrectly listed as BMRC in the proceedings. </p>.<p>The KIADB and Public Works and Revenue Departments were directed not to delay the projects further, particularly with regard to completing the stretches between Mysuru Road and Hosakerehalli Junction, and between Sunkadakatte and Kadabagere. NICE has also sought <br>7-15 acres of land for setting up casting yards and stacking areas. </p>.<p>The delay in completing the 13-km link road to Bidadi was also discussed. </p>.<p>“This stretch could have been finished in six months. Officials responsible for the delay should be held accountable,” the meeting chaired by Rajneesh resolved. </p>.<p><strong>Detailed report</strong></p>.<p>The principal secretary of the Revenue Department has been asked to submit a detailed report. </p>.<p>The Forest Department has been asked to provide 68.215 acres of forest land for the NICE project, although its exact location is not known.</p>.<p>The empowered committee also took up a long-pending proposal by NICE to acquire 10,000 acres of land for the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway. </p>.<p>Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is also in support of this project, stating that the new access-controlled highway built by the NHAI is badly designed. </p>.<p>However, multiple sources noted that the empowered committee overlooked several court directives, departmental inputs, affidavits submitted by the government and prior recommendations from various legislative and cabinet sub-committees.</p>.<p>This may have prompted the government to consider a detailed review by a newly constituted cabinet sub-committee, it is learnt.</p>