Bangalore: The Centre has assured the State Government that its proposal for the development of an intermediate ring road around Bangalore is under consideration.

Sources in the Government told The Hindu that the Union Government is likely to call for global bids to prepare a feasibility plan for the project before giving its final approval. The State has submitted two ring road projects for approval: a 200-km intermediate ring road or a 300-km satellite towns ring road. The Centre is likely to approve the intermediate ring road since it will link the national highways criss-crossing Bangalore city.

BMRDA in charge

The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), which has been given overall charge of building ring roads and satellite towns to decongest Bangalore, has received a shot in the arm with the assurance given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu. The State Government's aim is to complete the project in two years along with the simultaneous development of at least two satellite towns.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna, State's Special Representative in New Delhi Mahima Patel, BMRDA Commissioner Sudhir Krishna and several top officials called on Mr. Baalu recently and requested that the National Highways Authority of India undertake the construction of the ring road.

The State Government, in its proposal to the Centre, has said that traffic congestion in Bangalore is largely due to long-distance lorries passing through the city on their way to other States. According to an estimate prepared by the BMRDA, the cost per kilometre of the eight-lane intermediate and satellite towns ring road is around Rs. 10 crore. The total cost of the projects works out to Rs. 5,000 crore. If the Centre undertakes even one project, it will result in quick completion of the project, apart from considerable savings to the State exchequer.

State of the art

BMRDA Commissioner Sudhir Krishna said the two ring roads would be state of the art with service roads alongside, avenue trees and service ducts for telephone, electricity, telephone and gas lines. The BMRDA and the Public Works Department has already completed the survey for the two ring roads and notified the alignment.

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