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The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sanctioned construction of the NH-212 which starts at Karnataka border at Muleholehalla at Bandipur Tiger Forest and run on Gundlupet-Nanjangud-Mysore-T Narasipur route, and terminate at Kollegal, near Uttamballi, adjoining the Kerala border where it joins the NH-209.
The total cost of the 130-km project will be Rs 585.74 crore. Of the 130 km, 101.40 km length will have two lanes and a 21.50 km section between Nanjangud and Mysore, and 7 km between Mysore City and Gundlupet town will have four lanes. A major bridge across the Kabini river, near Nanjangud, will come up at a cost of Rs 24.12 crore.
Three-plus-three toll plazas near Maddur village, near Kudanahalli gate, and near Duddagere village, three truck bays near Berambadi village, near Bandipalya village and near Yedadore village, and 11 bus bays have been proposed along the highway. Mysore city and Mysore City-Chamundi Hills are among the six junctions.
As it connects to Bandipur eco-tourism spot, Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajasagar, Mysore Palace and Chamundi Hills, passes via Nanjangud which is emerging as an industrial hub and religious centre; connects Kerala and Ooty in Tamil Nadu, leading the traffic from Bangalore and southern region of Karnataka to tourist spots in the neighbouring two states; and also connects M M Hills and B R Hills of Chamarajanagar district, the new NH has future potential.
Revealing these details after inspecting the work on Alanahalli-Nanjangud Road in Mysore today, PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa told reporters that the work on the National Highway would be completed within two years. It will help boost tourism and trade, and in the overall development of the region.
He said, there was no hurdle in acquiring additional land for the NH and Rs 28 crore has already been provided to compensate land losers.
For the first time, 1,668 km state highway between Bidar and Chamarajanagar is also being developed as a National Highway. About 10,000 kms of road had been improved last year in the state, he added.
This will also check the spate of fatal road accidents that regularly occur on the Mysore-Nanjangud Road due to the heavy vehicular traffic on the present narrow road.
However, much to the chagrin of environmentalists, it will result in uprooting of about 2,667 trees. After approval, cutting of trees has begun. Saying that the cutting of trees was inevitable, the minister said Rs 3.25 crore has been released to the Forest Department for planting 10 trees in place of one removed.
Those concerned by the increasing traffic within the city are also opposing the passing of four-way NH through Mysore city as it would lead to further increase in vehicular traffic movement once the road is completed.
