NHAI approached for Intermediate ring road:Baalu

Bangalore, Jun 6 (UNI) The Centre will favourably consider Karnataka's proposal to build a 250 km intermediate ring road around the city to ease traffic congestion in Greater Bangalore, Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T R Baalu said today.

Talking to newsmen here, after a review of various National Highway projects in the state along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, he said he had directed the National Highway Authority of India to come out with a Detailed Project Report (DPR). Once the DPR is ready, Union Cabinet's approval would be sought for the road, he added.

He, however, said there was need for the state government to go in for Metro rail in an active way, as most of the national highways converging into the city had reached a saturation point.

Referring to the delay caused by Indian Railways Consultancy Organisation (IRCON) in providing connectivity to the Mangalore Airport, he said the Ministry had taken up the delay seriously and if there was any further delay, the contract would be cancelled.

The state, among other things, had urged the Cetnre to start work on Bijapur-Hospet highway road. The NHAI had been asked to prepare the DPR for the project.

Referring to various underpasses sought by the state government on the national highway linking Devanahalli and Bangalore, he said these projects would be taken up during the implementation of the National Highway project phase seven, for which the plan was being drafted. The state had delayed approaching the Centre for the project and expressed inability to complete the work before the new international airport at Devanahalli was thrown open for traffic next year.

UNI