Bangalore:The Karnataka Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has approved a total expenditure of ₹20,000 crore for the development of state highways, major district roads and the construction of bridges across the state.Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre said the government had accorded top priority to road infrastructure and approved several major road development projects.
Under Phase 5, Stage 2 of the State Highway Development Project, roads covering a total length of 1,897 kilometres will be upgraded. The Cabinet has also approved an estimated expenditure of ₹6,000 crore under Annexure-E for taking up road, bridge and building works across various Assembly constituencies.Additionally, the government has approved an extra allocation of ₹3,000 crore for road development works.
Another major project, involving an investment of ₹6,000 crore, will cover approximately 3,986 kilometres of roads connecting one district headquarters to another, district headquarters to taluk headquarters, and one taluk headquarters to another.The Cabinet has also granted administrative approval for a revised estimate of ₹3,409.02 crore to undertake road development works around Bengaluru in 10 packages through the Karnataka Road Development Corporation.
Minister Eshwar Khandre said the project would help reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru and strengthen the city’s road network.He explained that approval had originally been granted in 2017 to develop 155 kilometres of roads around Bengaluru under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model at an estimated cost of ₹2,095 crore.
The works commenced in 2019. Of the revised project length of 142.27 kilometres, 121.78 kilometres of road development work has already been completed.The latest Cabinet decisions are aimed at improving road connectivity, strengthening infrastructure and facilitating smoother transportation across Karnataka.
