Bengaluru: A new controversy is brewing in Mandya, in the fertile Cauvery belt. This time it is over expansion plans of the present four-lane road from Bengaluru to Mysore, to a six-lane, expensive, tolled road. Sources in the government told this paper that a detailed project report has already been drawn up and soon the state government and NHAI will issue tenders for the six-lane highway. It seems like the Siddaramaiah-led government hurried through the gazette notification just before the elections, and converted state highway SH-17 into National Highway-275, connecting Bengaluru-Ramanagaram-Mandya-Mysore-Madikeri and terminating at Bantwal.
In a matter of a few months, the entire process was completed, with the Union ministry of surface road transport expediting it at lightning speed. The Mysore-Bengaluru road is currently a national highway and not SH-17 any more, Not many, even government officials, are aware of the fact. “The plan is to make a tolled national highway from the city to Bantwal, put up elevated roads in towns like Ramanagaram, Channapatna and Srirangapatna, and build bypasses for Maddur and Mandya. Around Rs 3,000 crore will have to be shelled out and over 600 acres of prime land and agricultural land all along the highway and for the Greenfield bypass will have to be acquired. Toll booths will be situated every 30 to 35 km,’’ PWD sources told this paper.
Landowners in Mandya are already up in arms against the move. They have protested and blocked the highway for over an hour on Friday. Later, they met Mandya DC, district in-charge minister Ambareesh and PWD minister Mahadevprasad and submitted a memorandum. They also alleged that fertile land will be lost and hundreds of families will lose their homes and livelihood. Mr Nanjundaswamy, who is active in the campaign, said that the contractor lobby was behind the project. ''What is the need to expand? They can put up elevated roads in towns and collect toll only for that stretch. This whole move to convert it to National Highway and bypasses is a money-spinner. When they don’t have money to run the government, what is the need to have a grand plan at Rs 3,000 crore? Innocent farmers are being victimised. We will not allow this to happen,’’ he said.
Once the project is completed, commuters will have to cough up anywhere between Rs 250 and Rs 400 to travel between Bengaluru and Mysore, and there will be no free road any more to Mysore.
“There should be an alternative toll-free road. At this rate, the entire state will be under the grip of contractors who will squeeze out money from people. The imposition of toll on the Devanahalli Road, leading to the international airport is an example. The belt between Bangalore and Mysore is the most fertile and densely cultivated region – it’s called the food bowl of the state of Karnataka. By imposing a toll road between these cities, purportedly to help commuters of the two cities, will directly impact agricultural production and the cost of production and distribution in this region,’’ sources said.
