Centre Approves Express Highways Worth Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore In Karnataka

In a bid to boost connectivity, the Road Transport and Highways Ministry on December 10, 2019, approved 22 green express highways in Karnataka, worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore. This includes 2,300 kms of new roads where the detailed project report is ready and the bidding process is expected to start soon.

The fund would also cover new alignment work on the Pune-Bengaluru Express Highway. The task is expected to be completed in next five years at an expense of Rs 50,000 crore. Road Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the Centre will also fund 80 per cent of the land acquisition cost of the Bengaluru Ring Road project.

In January this year,  the Karnataka government sanctioned Rs 8,015 crore to give a face-lift to Bengaluru. The Bengaluru Development Department will receive these funds for the infrastructural development in the city, over the next three years. These funds will be allocated for the development of drainage, tanks, footpaths, flyovers and underpasses across the city. The development department will be undertaking a detailed list of such works till 2021.

This year’s funds exclude the Rs 2,500-crore package announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earlier and over and above what has been allotted to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) as also the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

Apart from the infrastructure development that will take place using the state government’s funds, the BBMP will start work that was to be carried out with Rs 2,500 crore. This will include development of about 40 lakes, 100-km stretch of roadways within the corporation’s limits as also in village areas, footpaths, alternate connectivity to ITPL, multi-storey parking in Gandhi Bazaar among others. Work is expected to start by December 2019.

However, this year, the state Cabinet has not released any funds for the elevated corridors and the Peripheral Ring Road project. In 2018, over Rs 15,000 crores were released for six interconnected elevated corridors in Bengaluru that is to be built over the next four years.