Bengaluru-Mysuru highway widening to start on Jan. 15.

Work on the six-laning of the Bengaluru-Mysuru national highway will commence on January 15 even as approval to take up widening of a 5-km stretch on it is awaited from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna has said.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, he said the preparatory work had commenced, and work on bypasses had already started. “For the 5-km stretch which is forest land, we have sought permission of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. At some places, we have sought the land acquisition work to be expedited,” the Minister added.

According to him, though 30 months had been given to complete the project, the contractor had promised to complete it in 24 months. “Eleven camps are being set up. There will be a camp every 20 km. The project in two packages will be completed before time.” The construction cost, excluding land acquisition cost, would be ₹5,040 crore and including land acquisition it would be Rs. 6,000 crore, he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Revanna met Goa Public Works Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Monday to discuss the problems faced in construction work of NH 4 in Goa and ahead of the highway connecting Belagavi and Goa via Khanapur. “The work on four-laning of the road and two-laning in some stretches is set to begin. Alternative roads are not in proper condition. Traffic has to be diverted and all these issues were discussed,” he added.

The Goa Minister also sought the State’s help in supply of sand from Karwar for the works being taken up on NH 4 in Goa, he added.

THE HINDU