Mysuru: PWD and District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa officially handed over the Ring Road maintenance to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) by handing over the records to NHAI Executive Engineer T.R. Shivaram at the Government Guest House in Nazarbad this morning.

MP Pratap Simha, DC D. Randeep, MUDA Chairman D. Dhruvakumar, MUDA Commissioner Dr. M. Mahesh, Superintending Engineer M. Shivakumar, Executive Engineer Raju, Assistant Executive Engineer D.K. Ravi and other officials were present.

The Ring Road, which links six highways touching the city, was upgraded at a total cost of Rs. 332.20 crore, with the Central Government funding Rs. 156.35 crore, State Government Rs. 40.76 crore and MUDA Rs. 135.08 crore.

The upgradation works which commenced on Feb. 15, 2008 after the Union Government sanctioned the project under JnNURM scheme was completed and CM Siddharamaiah had thrown open the upgraded Ring Road on Apr. 28, 2016.

The Ring Road is 41.535 km long. The MUDA, after finding it difficult to generate funds for the maintenance of the road, approached District Minister, who in turn appealed MP Pratap Simha to convince the Centre for NHAI take over. Pratap Simha took up the issue with the Centre and succeeded in getting the NHAI take over the maintenance of the Ring Road. NHAI will now maintain 37.22 km of the 41.535 km long Ring Road, barring the 4.315 km stretch from H.D. Kote Road Junction to Nanjangud Road Junction.

The Centre will release Rs. 177 crore for further development of the Ring Road. The Centre, which has also funded for promoting green cover all along the Road, will take up maintenance at an estimated annual cost of Rs. 60-70 crore.

Tanveer Sait takes MUDA officials to task

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait, who represents NR constituency, arrived at the Guest House after the end of the programme, by which time Dr. Mahadevappa had returned to his official room.

Sait, who saw the MUDA Commissioner, the Superintending Engineer and other officials, took them to task for neglecting works in his constituency. Even as the officials were found gasping to answer to the queries of Sait, Dr. Mahadevappa, who ventured out of his room along with MUDA Chairman, pacified the upset Sait, saying that he would look into the matter,  it is learnt.