Hopes for better infrastructure go in circles

Hopes for better infrastructure go in circles
The Hindu

BANGALORE: The State Government has promised a lot for the year 2007 and beyond — four more ring roads, one private peripheral road, two expressways, 25 underpasses besides road widening and strengthening of existing roads.

Whether all of them materialise or not, the New Year certainly promises more road digging and traffic diversions for harried Bangaloreans. The Hindu summarises the projects planned.

Ring Roads

The Core Ring Road, to be taken up by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at a cost of Rs. 375 crore, will pass through Yeshwantpur, Rajajinagar, Sirsi Circle, Chamarajpet, Lalbagh, Dairy Circle, Adugodi, Vellara junction, Trinity Circle, Naga theatre, Benson Town, Jayamahal Road, Sadashivanagar and Mathikere Road. The 29.5-km road project got administrative clearance recently.

The Bangalore Development Authority is planning a Rs. 3600-crore, 110-km Peripheral Ring Road beyond the existing Outer Ring Road. Final notification for land acquisition is to be issued soon.

Intermediate Ring Road of BMRDA connecting Nelamangala, Bidadi, Harohalli, Tattekere Hoskote, Aradeshanahalli and Mylenahalli covers 188 km and will cost Rs. 750 crore. It is still in the planning stages. A Satellite Town Ring Road to be built by the BMRDA will connect all the taluk areas. This project too is in the planning stage.

Elevated expressway

The Rs. 450-crore elevated expressway from Silk Board Junction at Madiwala to Electronics City is to be ready by July 2008.

Airport expressway

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited is preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the airport expressway starting at the Hennur-Challakere stretch on Outer Ring Road and passing through Chikka Gubbi and Bagalur. The expressway will then connect NH-207 near Devanahalli.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-2008.

Other projects

Under the JNNURM, eight grade separators and six car-parking complexes are to come up in the next eight months. In addition, strengthening of 170 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads and widening of 33 roads are also promised.