Programme to develop 39 roads

Programme to develop 39 roads

The Hindu

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday launched a programme to improve the quality of 39 roads (883.40 km) at a cost of Rs. 683.56 crore.

He said Bangalore had seen a phenomenal growth in recent years and it was imperative to develop infrastructure to match the economic activities in the era of liberalisation. Construction of 39 roads would provide better connectivity to all towns in the limits of the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).

Mr. Kumaraswamy urged the Public Works Department to complete the work as per schedule to avoid cost escalation. The work had been undertaken in the larger interest of providing a better connectivity to units in the information technology sector and other industries and to ease traffic congestion in and around the city, he said.

The Government had decided to hold a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organisations and experts in civic affairs on January 27 to formulate a strategy for tackling infrastructure bottlenecks in Greater Bangalore.

Earlier, Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna said the work on 39 roads would be completed by March 2008. The Public Works Department would develop seven roads (Rs. 38.3 crore) under ASIDE (Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities) of the Centre. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) would develop rural roads by spending Rs. 300 crore in the next one year, he added.

Mr. Revanna said the Government had decided to approach the World Bank for a Rs. 4,500-crore loan to develop roads (3,000 km) connecting taluk headquarters in all districts under the Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP-II).

The KSHIP - I, which commenced in 2001 with funds provided by the World Bank, is likely to be completed in June 2007, six months behind schedule. The KSHIP-I was taken up for improvement of 2,381 km of State highways at a cost of Rs. 2,030 crore.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok and Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi were present.