Peripheral ring roads to be completed by Nov end

Peripheral ring roads to be completed by Nov end
D H News Service, Bangalore:
The Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Limited will complete work on the peripheral ring roads and bridges by the end of November, said Managing Director Ashok Kheny.


Making a presentation on the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project progress achieved during the last few months, to members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here on Tuesday, Kheny said, “NICE has completed construction of the link road in the last two months. If the government gives us the required land on time, we will also connect Mysore by December 2009. The matter is scheduled to come up before the Supreme Court on November 4,” Kheny said.

The BMIC corridor will also include construction of a landmark bridge above the river Cauvery, modelled on the San Francisco (USA) bridge.

He said bureaucratic delays and legal issues have been the primary reasons for delay, but the present government is keen on supporting the completion of the project on time, Kheny said.

“Eighty five percent of land losers have signed up for handing over land. If the government makes up its mind, we should have the required land in the next three months. Once complete, tourism will also get a boost on the corridor, as NICE has prepared a detailed report on tourism infrastructure to be developed. This includes theme parks that will showcase Indian history from 2000 BC onwards” the NICE chief added. NICE is yet to get 13,000 acres of land for the Rs 18,000 crore project.

The company has through the ‘Karnataka First Consortium’ also proposed construction of expressways, totalling 2250 km to connect all district headquarters to Bangalore, through the Swiss Challenge method, with an inter-change every 25 kms and another expressway to connect NH 7 to the BIA (Bengaluru International Airport) from Tumkur Road (NH 4) at the present BDA peripheral ring road on a PPP model. “The government is yet to look at our proposal” said Kheny.

Supporting the government’s plan to have a toll fee, Kheny said, “Tolling is good for infrastructure projects. But, you have to ensure that the money remains with the fund it is intended for and not spent elsewhere. We have proposed to collect Rs 2 per km for four wheelers, for the BMIC stretch”