WAY TO GO

WAY TO GO
With the Supreme Court recently directing completion of the BMIC project, business leaders hope for speedy resolution of remaining hurdles
Anshul Dhamija & Debojyoti Ghosh | TNN

Bangalore: Bangalore Inc has welcomed the Yeddyurappa government’s move to clear the few nagging hurdles before the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMIC). Business leaders told TOI the project must be speedily completed.
BMIC has had a bumpy ride so far — battling over two dozen court cases in both the state high court and the Supreme Court with the latter finally directing the government to complete it without creating more hurdles.
“The project is absolutely essential for citizens of Karnataka and this government must ensure its completion without succumbing to political pressure,” said T V Mohandas Pai, director, Infosys. “The project, when completed, will provide great economic benefit to the state and improve the morale of industry. Currently, morale is low because of politics surrounding the growth of infrastructure.”
With bickering coalitions a thing of the past, industry biggies are optimistic of development. “The present government must show the political will to speed up completion and place no road-blocks in the last stages of the project. It must also ensure that the infrastructure corridor connects to the central parts of the city,” said Capt G R Gopinath, vicechairman and MD, Deccan.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD, Biocon, says industry is most concerned that a project like BMIC, which will decongest the city, is repeatedly being stalled or put off due to “certain vested interests”. “Not only will this project connect North Bangalore to South Bangalore with people not having to traverse the city, but also ease horrendous traffic on Hosur Road. There is a Supreme Court directive on this issue and the government must adhere to that,” Shaw said.
Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoters of BMIC, has completed most link and peripheral roads. But at several locations, it hasn’t received land from the government to complete those stretches.
So far, the promoters have completed 39.5 km of the total length of 41 km of peripheral road; 7.1 km of the 9.1 km of link road and only 4.5 km of the expressway to Mysore.
“NICE was one of the first few PPP (public-private partnership) projects in Karnataka. Its completion will open up many windows,” said D Muralidhar, president, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI). “Suddenly, Mysore will move closer by more than an hour and we could expect a lot of activity in this corridor. With vast tracks of land available, the scope for development suddenly expands. This could lead to softening of land prices in and around Bangalore. For the harassed and hapless commuter, the road will cut down travel time to Mysore.”
There are other benefits such as creation of townships, which may help take pressure off the city. “In the future, one should see an upside in activities along the expressway, which canhelp rural people. It is now a good opportunity to develop places like Bidadi and Ramanagaram,” says S Viswanathan, chairman, CII Karnataka.
REMAINING ROADBLOCKS
On Link Road (9.1 km taking off from SH 17 — Kavika and linking the expressway)
Between 0 and 0.6 km linking expressway and Mysore Road near Byatarayanapura and Divitigeramanahally village
At 1.4 km, BBMP is yet to communicate approval for diversion road at Ring Road and integrating bridge and ramps across Outer Ring Road, which is pending for the past one and a half years
Between 2.6 km to 2.9 km near Hosakerehalli
At 5.4 km, alignment in BWSSB water pipeline has to be shifted, for which NICE has made a payment of Rs 77 lakh
Between 7.80 km and 8.30 km near Hemmigepura village for formation of link road
On Peripheral Road (Tumkur Road to Hosur Road connecting Magadi, Mysore, Kanakapura and Bannerghatta roads)
Between 8 km and 9 km on Bannerghatta Road junction, near Gottigere village for formation of road, ramps and slip roads to provide entry and exit to peripheral road
Between 15.4 km and 16 km near Kanakapura Road junction of Thalaghattapura village land required for ramps and slip road for entry and exit to peripheral road and land near U M Kaval village required to relocate high tension power line to facilitate construction of peripheral road, ramps and slip road
Between 23.4 km and 24.2 km near Mysore Road junction, clearance for construction of bridge across Mysore-Bangalore Road and land near Kengeri for construction of ramps/slip road for entry/exit to peripheral road
Between 33.6 km and 33.8 km near Magadi Road junction near Hosahally Gollarapalya for construction of ramps/slip road for entry/exit to peripheral road On Expressway (from Bangalore to Mysore)
Land required for laying of road from 5 km to 13.2 km is 184 acres. And 100 acres for formation of two interchanges. They fall in Gangasandra, Chinnakurchi, Vasanthahalli, Gonipura, Thippura, Hampapura, Talakuppe and Bheemanahalli