The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has started a new detailed project report (DPR) for a new road between Mysuru and Kerala, despite protests from activists. The Mysuru-Malabar National Highway project connects Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru with Kozhikode. Bharatmala Pariyojana has been used to identify the proposed stretch. The NHAI began the detailed project report (DPR) for road construction to finalise project details such as alignment, cost, and viability. Locals in Karnataka are opposed to the project, citing environmental concerns. In response to an unstarred question from Kerala MP Abdussamad Samadani in the ongoing Lok Sabha session, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed that projects are taken up for construction based on inter-se priority, traffic, availability of funds, connectivity requirements, and so on. When this road project is completed in Mallapuram, it will act as a catalyst for growth. The highway was supposed to run from Bengaluru to Mallapuram via Mandya, Mysuru, and Nilgiri, according to the original proposal. It is now proposed via the Mysuru-Nanjangud-Sultan Bathery in Wayanadand and Kozhikode routes. Greens are dissatisfied with the Centre's proposals for new infrastructure projects in the ecologically sensitive Mysuru region, as expected. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was established under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' (MoRTH) administrative control. The NHAI was established as a central authority to develop, maintain, and manage the National Highways entrusted to it by the Indian government. The authority, on the other hand, began operations in February of 1995. Image Source Also read: NHAI to build 5,795 km National Highways in Aspirational Districts