Major thrust to North-South highway project in Karnataka

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) was appointed as a nodal agency by the Karnataka government to execute the ‘Kalyana Patha’ project. The project is proposed as an eight-lane stretch to develop existing roads connecting Chamarajanagar with Bidar.

Emphasis on improving and widening existing roads along the stretch:

This project was announced by the Karnataka Chief Minister in the revised budget proposal for 2013-14, which was presented in July, this year. The primary objective of this project is to give a fillip so as to develop industries, colonies and small towns along the 850-km stretch which connects the two cities located at the southern and northern tips of Karnataka. As per information provided by Public Works Department (PWD) officials, the project envisages improving and widening existing roads based on the projected future traffic density.

Feasibility report followed by DPR:

The background information for planning the project would be obtained based on data collected by the PWD, from a traffic census it had conducted in 2011. Based on information gathered from KRDCL officials, to prepare the feasibility report for the project, Expression of interest would be invited from consultants immediately. After a feasibility report is prepared, it would be followed by a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Development of major district roads and State highways given top priority:

The main objective of the project would be to develop major district roads and State highways. The project could include many stretches considered for improvement under the Karnataka State Highway Development Project, aided by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Besides, the State Highway Development Project, intended to strengthen the State highways could also be integrated with the project. Incidentally, the State highways of Karnataka measure 20,770 km on the whole, while major district roads measure 49,959 km.

Two more proposals on the anvil:

Meanwhile the PWD engineers of north and south zones have been entrusted by the State government to submit reports on two other proposals. One of them involves the conversion of roads that connect one district headquarters with the neighbouring headquarters into four-lane stretches. The second one involves the conversion of roads connecting district headquarters with taluk headquarters into two lane stretches.

State seeks Special grants from Center:

A meeting was held in this regard between the State Chief Minister, the cabinet members and senior government officials with the 14th Finance Commission headed by the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India. During the meeting, it was sought that the panel recommend that the State be provided special grants by the Center, for executing the three projects.