CM Bommai urges Nitin Gadkari to clear projects worth ₹1 lakh crore

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday appealed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to clear projects worth ₹1 lakh crore in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday appealed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to clear projects worth ₹1 lakh crore in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai welcomes Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (ANI)

He also requested him to undertake projects related to ring roads in Raichur, Gadag, Koppal and Shivamogga as well.

"We mainly discussed the works of the national highway. Work is presently underway in projects worth around ₹46,830 crore but still work on projects worth more than ₹1 lakh has to be done. A decision has been taken to fast track those projects," Bommai told reporters after a meeting with Gadkari here on Thursday.

He also said the STRR (Satellite Town Ring Road) project is coming up at the Bannerghatta Reserved Forest.

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Since it is an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), the chief minister asked the wildlife committee to recommend an alternative route as the state government does not want the project to go through the Bannerghatta Reserved Forest.

"We have asked the state wildlife committee to make an alternative route for that. We have said that we don't want the project to go through the Bannerghatta Reserved Forest. They have agreed for it. The length and the cost of the project will increase but we have said we are not bothered about it. We have asked the officials to come up with an alternative route outside Bannerghatta," Bommai said.

Bommai said Gadkari also agreed to sanction ₹1,000 crore for the Railway Over Bridge (ROB) and Railway Under Bridge (RUB).

The chief minister said these ROB and RUBs are required in Ballari, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi.

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There were also discussions on the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) in Bengaluru. The leaders also spoke about the Raichur Ring Road, Koppal Ring Road, Gadag Ring Road and Shivamogga Ring Road.

"He has agreed to take up these ring road projects. We will be taking up the land acquisition, for which he agreed," Bommai said.

Gadkari was in Bengaluru to inspect the Chennai-Bengaluru Expressway and Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway project.