Widening of Bengaluru-Mysuru highway in January, says Minister Mahadevappa

Bengaluru: Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa said the eight-lane conversion of Bengaluru-Mysuru highway will be taken up in two packages at a cost of Rs. 4,149 crore in January end.

Addressing presspersons, the Minister said the Centre had given its nod for the project and it would be soon placed before the Union Cabinet. The project will be taken through a Hybrid Annuity model, a new concept introduced by the government to take up infrastructure projects.

The project will be split into two packages — Bengaluru-Nidaghatta (56.2 km) and Nidaghatta-Mysuru (64.14 km). While the first package will cost Rs. 1,980 crore, the second one will cost Rs. 2,169 crore. The Union government will fund 50% of the project and the State will raise the remaining funds, he said. The roads will have multiple toll collection booths. Six lanes will be part of the toll road, while two lanes will be service roads for towns along the highways, where toll will not collected.

Meanwhile, the State government will also take up construction of Ring Road around Mysuru city, connecting all exit roads of the city at a cost of Rs. 600 crore. The Union government has also approved upgrading Mysuru-Nanjangud-Gundlupet and Mysuru-Bantwal to national highways, Mahadevappa said.

The Union government has also given clearance for various other works across the State. Construction of a bridge to connect Sigandur from Shivamogga and declare the road to Kolluru as national highway, construction of flyovers in 10 places at Hubballi city and nine places at Dharwad are some of the projects that have been cleared, the Minister added.