The Hindu : Karnataka News : Superstructure over Hosur highway approved

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Superstructure over Hosur highway approved

By Our Staff Reporter

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu (left), and his deputy, K.H. Muniyappa (second from left), inspecting the Yelahanka bypass near Jakkur railway gate in Bangalore on Monday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE, SEPT. 27. The Union Government has approved a nine-km-long elevated superstructure to be built over the Bangalore-Hosur highway (NH7) at a cost of Rs. 400 crores to facilitate smooth traffic up to the Electronic City.

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu, announced the project after a meeting with leaders of the information technology industry. The Centre's decision is being seen as a move to assuage the feelings of the IT sector after the State Government's decision to levy higher taxes and companies' complaints about the lack of infrastructure in Bangalore.

In the words of Mr. Baalu, the superstructure would be a "four-lane flyover-like structure built on pillars." He held a meeting with the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh; the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah; the Water Resources Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge; and senior government officials.

Contribution

A special purpose vehicle would be launched for the purpose, and the IT majors would contribute 33.33 per cent of the funds required for the project. The rest of the money would be provided by the National Highways Authority of India and the State Government.

Six-lane highway

Mr. Baalu said that apart from the superstructure, a six-lane highway would be built from Bangalore up to the 25th-km stone on NH7. During the construction of the superstructure, the service roads and part of the six-line highway would be strengthened for easy movement of vehicles. The feasibility report would be ready by March 31 next year, and the foundation stone laid on April 2. The construction would be completed within two years from then, he added.

Mr. Baalu and Mr. Siddaramaiah said that those using the nine-km superstructure would have to pay a toll.

No toll would be collected from those using the six-lane highway. However, road users from Tamil Nadu using the highway would have to pay a toll.

Four-lane stretch

The Chief Minister said that of the 625-km under the Golden Quadrilateral, a 178-km stretch would have four lanes.

Mr. Dharam Singh submitted proposals for a few other road works.

They were: conversion of the 100-km stretch between NH4 and NH7 into an eight-lane highway, upgrading of 590-km of NH4 into a four-lane highway; 21 other proposals for upgrading 1,360 km of State highways such as the Jewargi-Bellary (248 km), Hebsur-Ramanagaram (82 km), Bantwal-Mulbagal (487 km), Mysore-Malavalli (52 km), Bangalore-Puttur-B.C. Road (361 km) and Bagalkot-Kuknur (130 km) into national highways.

Mr. Dharam Singh, who held the portfolio of Public Works in the previous government, reminded Mr. Baalu that the State Government had submitted a list of 317 works to be taken up at a cost of Rs. 317 crores under the Central Road Fund, six works at a cost of Rs. 64.15 crores under the inter-State connectivity, and two works at a cost of Rs. 3 crores under "roads of economic importance."

Mr. Baalu also sanctioned the 74-km Kundapur-Suratkal national highway at a cost of Rs. 400 crores.

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