Six-laning of B'luru-Mysuru road to cost Rs 3,000 crore

The upgrading of Bengaluru-Mysuru road into a six-lane National Highway will cost Rs 3,000 crore, according to a study commissioned by the Public Works Department (PWD).

The PWD has now dispatched the study report prepared by Sicon Consultants to the Union Surface Transport and Highways Ministry. Sources said tenders for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) would be called for, once the Centre gave its go-ahead for the project. 

As road widening was not possible along the entire stretch, it has been recommended that bypasses for a total length of 50 km be constructed at Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Mandya and Srirangapatna.

It has been suggested that a six-lane flyover be constructed from Jnanabharathi junction to link Mysuru Road after Kengeri. A 3.3-km bypass at Bidadi has also been mooted, followed by a 19-km bypass to connect Ramanagara and Channapatna.

Existing road

As a six-lane road already exists between Somanahalli and Maddur, only a service road has been recommended between the two towns. It was initially proposed that a flyover be constructed at Mandya. However, the study has recommended that a bypass be constructed at Mandya to reduce costs as the flyover is estimated to cost between Rs 100 crore and Rs 150 crore per km.

Another bypass has been recommended from Mandya Acetate Factory to Idumala covering a stretch of nine km. The final bypass on the Bengaluru-Mysuru stretch has been suggested between Nimishamba temple in Srirangapatna and Paschimavahini.

Toll centres have been suggested to be set up - one at a distance of 10 km from Nice junction, another at K Shettihalli, Srirangapatna and one more at KRS Road junction. 

The present traffic density on the Bengaluru-Mysuru stretch is 70,917 vehicles per day. According to the PWD estimate, the density will reach 1.2 lakh vehicles per day in 2030 and it 2.5 lakh vehicles per day by 2042. A total of 533 acres will have to be acquired for the upgrading project and land acquisition is estimated to cost Rs 1,119 crore.