D.K. Shivakumar meets Nitin Gadkari, discusses Bengaluru city infrastructure projects

Karnataka Deputy CM discusses Bengaluru projects with Union Ministers, including tunnel road and metro rail expansion, seeking funds.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday met Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed projects related to Bengaluru city and Karnataka.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, discussed the ‘ropeway buses’ project and urged Mr. Gadkari to explore its feasibility as a sustainable urban transport option, said a press release.

Mr. Shivakumar urged Mr. Gadkati to take up work related to the upgradation of a road between Benagaluru and Kanakapura into six lanes and completion of a 7-km road linking the toll plaza at Kaggalipura on the outskirts of the city.

He demanded the Centre’s aid for providing compensation for families whose land has been acquired for the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) connecting Dobbspet, Magadi, Ramanagara, and Harohalli. Though the work on the STRR started in 2009, compensation has not been paid, Mr. Shivakumar said in a petition to Mr. Gadkari.

He discussed a proposed 60-km tunnel road project that would connect east-west and north-south corridors in Bengaluru. The cost of the tunnel project has been estimated at ₹30,000 crore. The cost of the tunnel per km has been estimated at ₹500 crore. The project has been proposed to ease traffic congestion.

The tunnel project would connect NH 7 and NH 4 and ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru. The project would be taken up by both the Centre and Karnataka. Mr. Shivakumar urged the Union Minister to provide funds to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to execute the project.

Mr. Shivakumar also submitted proposals regarding elevated corridors in Bengaluru.