The Karnataka state government has set up a seven-member cabinet sub-committee to review the progress of the long-delayed Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project and suggest necessary legal actions. The move comes after decades of stalled work and multiple legal and land acquisition hurdles that have hindered the project’s completion.
On Saturday, the government announced that the committee will be headed by Home Minister G Parameshwara, with other members including ministers HK Patil, K H Muniyappa, MB Patil, HC Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, and Krishna Byre Gowda. The committee has been tasked with consulting legal and subject matter experts and submitting a report within two months on the further course of action to be taken.
This decision follows an April 11 cabinet meeting where it was decided to take over the project, given that no progress had been made for years. As of March 2019, only a 4 km stretch of the expressway, 41 km of a peripheral road, and 8.5 km of a link road had been completed. Delays have primarily been attributed to land acquisition challenges and the non-payment of compensation to farmers whose land was needed for the project. Moreover, there are a staggering 374 court cases related to land disputes associated with the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, further complicating matters.
The Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project was first approved by the undivided Janata Dal government in 1995, with the aim of creating a major infrastructure corridor between the two cities, along with satellite townships and a peripheral link road. The project, known as BMIC, was envisioned to improve connectivity and promote regional development. In 1997, an MoU was signed between the state government and a consortium led by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) Limited, which was tasked with executing the project.
However, the project has faced numerous issues since its inception. The framework agreement signed between NICE and the government outlined that 20,193 acres of land would be allocated for the expressway and associated developments, including 6,999 acres for the toll road and 13,194 acres for townships. Of this, 6,956 acres were to be government land, and the remaining 13,237 acres were private land. However, NICE has faced allegations of violating the terms of the framework agreement while executing the project.
The newly-formed committee will review all aspects of the project, including the legal challenges, land acquisition issues, and allegations against NICE. The government hopes that the report will provide a clear path forward to resolve the ongoing issues and expedite the completion of the vital expressway.
In a statement, an official note mentioned that the Public Works Department will assist the committee in reviewing the progress of the project and its legal implications. The committee is expected to provide recommendations on how the stalled work can be revived and completed, taking into account all pending legal matters and disputes related to land acquisition.
As the state government prepares for the next phase of the project, citizens are hopeful that the formation of the panel will pave the way for much-needed infrastructure development that can ease travel and boost economic activities between Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Sources By Agencies