State urges Centre to upgrade Bangalore-Mysore highway

The State government has recently urged the Union Surface Transport ministry to initiate steps to take up its proposal to upgrade the Bangalore-Mysore as a national highway to smoothen the traffic flow.

PWD minister H C Mahadevappa submitted the proposal to the Union Minister for Surface Transport Oscar Fernandes in New Delhi and urged him to accord in-principle approval to it so as to commence the process of implementation.

The State government has proposed to upgrade the highway, by converting it into either six or eight lane road, in view of increase in traffic density on the route.

PWD Chief Engineer (National Highways) C Mruthyunjaya Swamy said the Centre has assured to take necessary steps.

The Union Surface Transport ministry has been urged to appoint a consultant, immediately after according in-principle approval, so that feasibility report can be prepared.

The State government has also provided traffic density data to the Centre to corroborate its stand on the need for upgrading the highway.

However, sources said, the Union Surface Transport ministry is unlikely to take any decision on the proposal until the new government assumes charge after May 16 – the day of counting of votes for the ongoing general elections.

PPP project

The Chief Engineer further said the State government has requested to take up the project on public-private partnership basis.

The government has said it is ready to shoulder the responsibility of land acquisition and utility shifting.

“We have requested the centre for capacity augmentation of the route. Augmentation can be six-laning or eight-laning or construction of bypass roads and elevated roads at key traffic junctions,” he added.

Decision on what kind of upgrading should be done will be taken after going through the feasibility report.

If implemented under PPP basis, Bangalore-Mysore will in all probability become a toll road.