Bengaluru:  The development works on the existing Mysuru-Bengaluru National highway into six-lane tracks and the service roads on either side would be launched on Mar. 24, said Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha.

The works will be launched at 1 pm near Yesvantpur during which Central and State Ministers would be present.

The works on the highway, taken up at a cost of Rs. 6,400 crore would be taken up in two phases. In the first phase, the development works would be taken up from Bengaluru to Nidlaghatta and the second phase of works would be taken up from Niglaghatta to Mysuru.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded the contract to Dilip Buildcon Ltd. with a works completion deadline of two-and-a-half years. The contract also includes construction of nine major bridges, 44 small bridges and four railway over-bridges.

According to NHAI, 117 kms of the existing highway would be developed into six lanes and would be taken up on Hybrid Annuity Mode.

Once the works are completed and the highway thrown open for the public, the travel time between Mysuru and Bengaluru would come down by 90 minutes, it is learnt.