If a proposal by the state government is approved by the Centre,Bangalore could become the first city in the country to be encircled by a ring road that will be as good as a National Highway.The National Highway Ring Road will be 320 km long and connect 10 satellite towns around the IT city.The ambitious plan involves upgrading 200 kilometres of state highways to the standard of National Highways.The rest will be made up by 120 km of National Highway 207.State highways are built and maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD).National Highways Authority of India is responsible for the development,maintenance and management of National Highways.There is a section in the PWD to take care of the needs of National Highways in the state.
K Jaiprakash,chief engineer,National Highway Zone in the state PWD,said,In the context of the proposed road,NH 207 connects Dobbespet in Bangalore Rural district to Doddaballapur,Devanahalli,Hoskote and Sarjapur.
At this point,state highways will take you to Anekal,Kanakapura,Ramnagar,Magadi and back to Dobbespet.
The proposal and its benefits were presented to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes.Sources in the PWD claimed that the Union minister was impressed and promised all possible assistance from the Centre.
PWD minister K C Mahadevappa said,I accompanied the chief minister to the meeting last week with the Union minister.Fernandes readily gave his consent to the project and directed us to submit a detailed project report in a months time.We aim to complete the project in less than two years and make Bangalore the first city in the country to be encircled by a road built to the standards of a National Highway.
A senior executive engineer of the PWD said,The previous government had begun creating satellite towns to decongest Bangalore and ensure growth evenly around the city.The NH Ring Road project will cover the 10 satellite towns within a radius of 50 km from the core of the city.
We are estimating the cost of implementing the project and preparing a feasibility report.Among other things,we have to decide whether the road should be toll free or charge a fee in select portions.
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