A dream drive to the airport

A dream drive to the airport
The Asian Age

Bangalore, Aug. 31: The state government has submitted a proposal to the Union government to build an eight-lane expressway between the IT corridor and the international airport coming up at Devanahalli.

According to the proposal, the 45-km expressway will be constructed at a cost of Rs 150 crores. "We have mooted this proposal to ensure that air travellers particularly those employed in IT firms reach the new airport quickly. This project can be implemented on the build-own-operate basis," power and PWD minister, H.D. Revanna told reporters on Wednesday.

The state government had also requested the Centre to join it in building a circular eight-lane road around the city. "A joint venture between the Andhra Pradesh and Union governments has been approved by the Centre. The Karnataka government has requested the Union surface transport ministry to direct the National Highway Authority of India to join the state in implementing this project," Mr Revanna announced.

He said the government had sought an assistance of Rs 550 crores from the Centre to improve the 38 small and medium roads in the city. A memorandum including all these proposals had been submitted to Union surface transport minister, T.R. Balu on Monday. Till now, the Centre has provided Rs 3,000 crores for developing a road network measuring 458 kms in the state.