Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who inspected the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway on Thursday, said that it would be ready for inauguration by February.
Mr. Gadkari conducted an aerial survey along the alignment of the road and later told mediapersons near Ramanagaram, about 45 km from Bengaluru, that there was some pending work near the Mysuru end it would be expedited for completion by February. ‘’Once completed it would be inaugurated either by the Prime Minister or the President’’, he said.
Describing the corridor as a catalyst to spur investment along the region, Mr. Gadkari said that it would also help in the industrial development along the corridor and trigger growth of Mysuru, besides Ramanagaram and Mandya.
The Minister expressed confidence that the shorter time travel will encourage the IT sector to invest in Mysuru, adding that the cheaper land rate will make the city attractive for industrialists. It will also give a fillip to the growth of educational institutions in the region, he added.
Mr. Gadkari said he was in talks with transport companies and wanted them to design air-conditioned buses with business class seats to operate on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway. This will encourage people to shift from private to public transport system and help reduce traffic density.
He said that the government is striving to reduce the logistics costs through infrastructure development and better connectivity. At present the logistic cost in India was almost 16 per cent of the GDP and the government wants to reduce it to single digits. In comparison, the figure is 12% in the U.S and most European countries and 8% to 10% in China, he added.
In reply to criticism by some elected representatives, including Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, that the highway was ‘unscientifically’ designed, Mr. Gadkari said they will evaluate the complaints on technical parameters if any specific issues are raised. “The DPRs are prepared by a team of technical experts, and not by politicians or Ministers. But if the MP has any reservation, we will check with the technical committee,’’ said Mr. Gadkari.
The problem of flooding reported from Ramanagaram during recent rains is being evaluated and solutions will be incorporated, besides carrying out a road safety audit, the Minister said.
Satellite Town Ring Road
Mr. Gadkari also surveyed the Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road being developed at a cost of ₹13,139 crore, and expressed confidence that it would reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru by allowing smooth movement of freigh,t obviating their entry into the city.
The Bengaluru Satellite Town Ring Road is proposed to be 288-km in length and will connect the Bengaluru suburban areas of Devanahalli, Hoskote, Doddaballapur, Ramanagaram and Anekal. The road will be connected to the multi-nodal logistics park at Dobbaspet and also linked to the proposed Pune-Bengaluru Greenfield Expressway, added Mr. Gadkari who was accompanied by Minister for Higher Education C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh, and Mysuru MP Pratap Simha and others.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari arrives to inspect the the 10-lane Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, near Ramanagaram on January 5, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI
