A new economic corridor from the state government will change the way one travels from Bengaluru to Kalyana Karnataka, popularly known as North Karnataka. The greenfield corridor from Bidar to Bengaluru would decrease travel time and give a fillip to regional connectivity. The PWD has taken up the project financed by the KKRDB.
Bengaluru And Bidar Get A 600-km Corridor
The proposed corridor would cut across seven districts in Kalyana Karnataka—Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagara—besides Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru. The PWD has just floated a tender to select a consultant for preparing a pre-feasibility report, which is essential for any major infrastructure project. Such a report will spell out the shortest route, how many lanes will be required, what extent of land acquisition is needed, and the overall impact of the project.
Currently, travel between Bengaluru and Bidar via NH 50 connecting Nanded in Maharashtra to Chitradurga in Karnataka takes around 12-14 hours. In sharp contrast, the proposed 600-kilometre corridor will cut travel time by more than half. It will connect major industrial hubs, district headquarters, and financial hubs, offering a safer, faster, and cheaper route for cargo besides people.
The consultant will have to study the existing alignments between Bidar and Bengaluru, suggest options for financing, and recommend the most feasible route for catalysing growth in Kalyana, Karnataka. The final alignment shall focus on socio-economic development across all seven districts and connect key industrial and financial hubs.
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State Highway 104 To Be Upgraded
Congress had swept all five Lok Sabha seats in this region. A reason why Siddaramaiah government announced ₹5,000 crore exclusively for this region in its 2024-25 budget. This area is notified as a backward region under Article 371(J) of the Constitution.
Besides the expressway, PWD is upgrading State Highway 104. The 50-km stretch, toll-free road, is a feeder road connecting Bengaluru to Kempegowda International Airport via Devanahalli and Bagalur. The present route is perhaps mired in criticism over its deplorable condition. Under the State Highway Development Project, upgrades have started, including a cement concrete stretch of 2.6 km at ₹24.28 crore.
This corridor and road improvement basically mean a lot in the infrastructure and economic perspectives of Kalyana Karnataka. The state government is connecting major places by reducing travel time, aiming for more regional development and economic activities.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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