Mysuru/Bengaluru: The work on the upgradation of Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway is likely to be delayed for various reasons.

Reason one is that the State Energy Department wants more funds to shift electric poles and transformers from the land earmarked for the project. Reason two is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has stated that it will take time to clear trees on the Road that are a major obstacle. Reason three is that a meeting which was convened in Mysuru to elicit public opinion over felling of trees has ended inconclusively.

Karnataka Public Works Department Minister H.D. Revanna has said that thousands of electric poles and transformers need to be shifted and the Energy Department has quoted 15% more than the amount prescribed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for the purpose.

“Since NHAI has to take a call on the matter, I have requested Nitin Gadkari to intervene in the matter. Gadkari has promised to visit Bengaluru soon and solve the issue. Till such time, work has to be stopped,” the Minister added.

Reacting on the issue, Nitin Gadkari has said that trees on the Highway are the biggest roadblock for the project. “I will visit Bengaluru soon and sort out the issue,” he said. Sources, however, said that the Union Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change has raised objections to the tree felling on the Highway.  

A meeting convened on Wednesday (June 20) at Siddalingapura to elicit public opinion over felling of trees for the Highway widening has remained inconclusive.

Participants of the meeting alleged that the officials did not communicate about the meeting and this had resulted in lack of attendance.

The existing stretch of four-lane road will be converted to six-lane by widening the road up to 200 ft with a service road on the either side. The meeting was convened to seek opinion regarding axing of over 209 trees coming under a stretch of four kilometres covering three villages from Mysuru side — Kalasthawadi, Siddalingapura and Belawadi.

The meeting was on for some time and the authorities concerned exchanged information and later decided to call it off with a promise of convening another meeting.

The Centre had given final approval for the Rs. 2,920 crore project to be taken up by NHAI just ahead of Assembly polls and Gadkari had laid the foundation stone on March 25. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the project during his visit to Mysuru before the elections.

The project, which will have six lanes and bypass roads in towns like Bidadi, Maddur, Ramanagara, Mandya and Srirangapatna, is likely to cut down travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru by 30 minutes.

The existing four-lane road, passing through congested and thickly populated towns and settlements like Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna, etc., has already crossed its capacity, resulting in traffic jams and accidents.

The works will be taken up in two phases. In the first phase, the development works would be taken up from Bengaluru to Nidaghatta and the second phase of works would be taken up from Nidaghatta to Mysuru.

The upgradation to 6-lane along with service roads on each side and construction of bypasses at Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna and grade-separated structures on this stretch of the National Highway will greatly reduce the time and cost of travel, particularly of heavy traffic plying in the region.