Poor cooperation by TN on Bengaluru expressway: NHAI

According to NHAI officials, work on the expressway pegged at Rs 6000 crore should have been taken up last month but is yet to take off. 

When asked about the reason for the delay, officials said while they have acquired lands required in Karnataka with the help of its government, the Tamil Nadu government has failed them in this regard. 

“We need a total of around 3,000 hectares of lands in both the states. When it comes to Tamil Nadu, we are facing major hurdles in acquiring the required land. If the situation persists, it will take some more time before we can start work,” said a NHAI official, wishing anonymity. 

The NHAI is also awaiting environmental clearance certificate and Public Works Department clearance. Meanwhile, citizen activists have urged cooperation between state government and NHAI to complete the works. “It has been almost seven years since the project was proposed. However, works are yet to start,” said S Mohanram, president, Consumer Protection Council. He added that the vital project would boost the road infrastructure by cutting down on the travel time. 

Meanwhile, NHAI has sent a report on present status of the project to the Union Road Ministry. A meeting headed by Union ministry officials to discuss further course of action is expected to be held soon. 

It may be noted that NHAI proposed this project mainly to reduce travel time between the two cities from the existing seven hours to four hours, with vehicles plying at a speed of 120 kmph. The road from Sriperumbudur and ends in Hoskote (Karnataka).