Bangalore: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed to build a six-lane elevated highway on Jalahalli Cross-Nelamangala Cross section of National Highway 4 (Tumkur Road).

This is the second such project proposed after the National Highway-7 project, jointly funded by the Union and State governments, between the Central Silk Board junction and Electronics City on Hosur Road. This is expected to begin by end of July.

The Centre and State governments are thinking of together funding a Rs. 40-crore project on strengthening three other major road segments.

These include the Attibele intersection to Varthur, via Sarjapur section; Chandapura-Dommasandra and Attibele-Anekal-Bannerghatta Road segments.

These roads will be significantly widened and strengthened to carry additional traffic diverted from the Hosur Road stretch till the work there is completed.

The other major road projects are four-laning of the road between Krishnarajapuram and Hospet on National Highway-4 and widening of the Nelamangala-Hassan section on National Highway-48. The four-laning of the Bellary Road towards Devanahalli, location for the new airport, is nearing completion.

The elevated highway at Jalahalli Cross was thought of by the NHAI after detailed studies of existing traffic volumes and future projections.

The highway here handles heavy traffic load, which cannot be handled by the surface road alone.

Widening of the road was not feasible either and thus the elevated highway was chosen as the ideal solution.

While through traffic, which need not enter the city, can use the elevated road, other vehicles will use the surface road.

Different revenue models to fund the highways expansion were said to be considered in view of the costs involved.

The elevated highway will cost almost Rs. 40 crore a km, compared to Rs. 5 crore a km for a surface road.

Access controlled highways with a toll system is one option. Another could be to go for the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) system with a private partner.

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