The Karnataka Cabinet on Friday approved a Rs 694 crore action plan for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to improve Bengaluru’s road infrastructure. Under the project, the government is going to upgrade 389 km of main and sub-arterial roads to facilitate traffic movement.
The project will be implemented over two financial years with an allocation of Rs 300 crore for 2024-25 and Rs 394 crore for 2025-26.
Out of the Rs 694 crore action plan, Mahadevpura zone is set to receive Rs 140 crore for 82 km long roads, which is the highest among BBMP zones. Meanwhile, Yelahangka region will get Rs 97 crore, East and RR Nagar region Rs 95 crore and West region Rs 71 crore for the 69 km long road.
The move comes amid growing public discontent over the dilapidated condition of the roads, which has led to safety concerns and increased travel times.
Green signal for Metro Phase 3A
The Karnataka Cabinet also approved the much-awaited 36.59 km metro line connecting Sarjapur to Hebbal as part of Phase 3A of the Bengaluru Metro Rail project. The line, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 28,405 crore, comprises a 22.14 km elevated section with 17 stations and a 14.45 km underground section with one metro station.
The project will be funded under the equity-partnership joint venture model outlined in the Metro Rail Policy 2017. Financing schemes are facilitated by the Centre, securing loans from multilateral and bilateral financial institutions. The plan also includes using sovereign debt to fund and allocate funds for pre-construction activities such as land acquisition, utility relocation, and detailed design. After the approval of the State Government, the Phase 3A project file will be sent to the Central Government for final approval.
This comes months after the development center approved Phase 3 of the metro project with a total of 30 stations comprising two corridors connecting JP Nagar Phase IV to Kempapura (32.15 km) and Hosahalli to Kadabagere (12.5 km).