BANGALORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is examining a proposal submitted by the State Government for undertaking road development works in Bangalore city to ease congestion, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping K.H. Muniyappa said here on Saturday.

Seven highway projects

The Minister told presspersons that the NHAI has taken up for development seven highway projects in the State, totalling 475 km, under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase III A on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

These include the stretches between Nelamangala and Bangalore, Bangalore, Hoskote and Mulbagal, Belgaum and Karnataka/Goa border, Bangalore and Hosur, Kundapur and Surathkal, Mangalore and Karnataka/Kerala border and Nelamangala and Hassan.

"Steps have been taken to expedite the implementation of these projects and the actual work is likely to start in a year," he said.

The Centre is also examining the feasibility of building a four-lane highway between Bijapur and Hospet on National Highway 13, spanning 194 km, on BOT basis under NHDP III. Besides, work on connecting New Mangalore Port Trust with a four-lane link from Surathkal to Bantwal under the major port connectivity programme will start soon.

Out of the 14 national highways in Karnataka spanning a length of 3,978 km, 655 km are being taken up for development by the NHAI.

During the current year, it is proposed to widen 90 km of single-lane highway into two-lane highway apart from maintenance of national highways.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has also decided to build bypasses around major cities of the State. It has been decided to study the feasibility of constructing bypasses for Hubli, Kanakapura and Hospet.

"On the basis of feasibility, these bypasses will be taken up for development in the near future," he said.

Under the Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme, road projects estimated at Rs. 404.43 crores have been sanctioned for the State.

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