'K'taka Govt fails to hand over land for Expressway project'

Mysore, June 1 (UNI) The state-of-the-art expressway, under the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, will be thrown open for public by December 2007, if the Karnataka Government hands over the land required for the project immediately. Informing this at the project presentation, organised by the Builders Associaton of India here last night, Project executor Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Managing Director Ashok Kheny said the work on the 111-km expressway was yet to begin from Mysore side due the 'failure' of the state government to hand over the land for the project, despite writing several letters to it.

He said the Mysore Urban Development Authority should had over the land to the company immediately.

Mr Kheny announced that the first phase of the project, a 23 km stretch between Bangalore-Kanakapura, would be opened on June 16.

Though the government was creating hurdles in acquiring the land at the entry and exit points, the company was confident of solving the issue, he added.

Mr Kheny said the expressway, being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore, would facilitate travel at the speed of 120 kmph.

He assured that his company would take up rehabilitation of villagers whose land had been acquired for the project and create a world class infrastructure without harming the environment.

Apart from setting up seven townships as part of the project, NICE also intended to construct a hanging bridge across river Cauvery near Mysore on the lines of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, US, he revealed.

He said the Ambani Group, which owned 15 per cent equity share in the BMIC project, would look after the telecommunication network.

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