Centre okays six-laning of B'luru-Mysuru Road

The Union Ministry for Surface Transport has given the permission to convert the existing Bengaluru-Mysuru stretch into a six-lane national highway.

PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa told reporters here on Thursday that bypass roads would be constructed to the proposed six-lane highway at Bidadi, Ramanagar, Channapatna and Mandya. Earlier, it was planned to construct flyovers at all these locations.

The minister said that a detailed project report would be submitted to the government in about three months after which tenders would be floated. Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari gave the green signal for the project recently. The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (Nice) had written to Gadkari claiming that six-laning of Bengaluru-Mysuru Road was not a feasible idea.

Mahadevappa said that it would be ideal for the Centre to develop the already promised 2,000 kms of national highway before taking up additional projects.

He said that he also had a discussion with Gadkari on the tunnel along the Shiradi Ghat, to be constructed with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is estimated that the State would seek Rs 10,000 crore from JICA for the project.

One more road to Airport

The PWD has decided to open a second road to Kempegowda International Airport, connecting Hosur with Dobbspet via Electronic City and Hoskote.