The Hindu Business Line : Centre takes up three highway projects in Karnataka under NHDP

MR K.H. MUNIYAPPA (left), Union Minister of State for Road, Transport, Highways & Shipping, with Mr R.C. Purohit, President, FKCCI, and Mr V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure Development Dept., Karnataka Government, at the FKCCI's seminar on `Road transport & national highways' in Bangalore on Friday. — K. Murali Kumar

Bangalore , Dec. 22

The Centre has taken up three projects in Karnataka under phase three of the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP).

Addressing members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Mr K.H. Muniyappa, said the projects being taken up were the Bangalore, Hoskote - Kolar-Mulbagal on NH 4 (National Highway 4), Neelamangala-Hassan on NH48 and the Kunapur-Mangalore-Kanakapura section on NH17.

In addition to these projects, he said the Centre would also provide the port connectivity to all the ports in the State on a priority basis as part of the programme.

He said the Centre had also taken a decision to upgrade NH63 linking Bellary, Kolar and Hubli.

Upgradation

He said the upgradation and widening of highways to four lanes would be done on improved technology. This would allow the highways to remain maintenance free for more than five years even in monsoon conditions.

He, however, asked the State Government to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent overloading and consequent damage to the highways.

The Government, he said, planned to begin upgrade at least 20,000 km of highways this year in the country. At least 5,000 km of widening roads to six lanes and 1,000 km of expressway development projects would be taken up.

These would be taken up through public private partnerships, he added .