The construction work of Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway work is estimated to be completed by next year. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways informed that the works on the stretch between Bengaluru-Nidaghatta (56.2 km) are partly finished (47 km). Gadkari said that 80.49% of the project is ready. Work on this project started early, as it was the first package being awarded. The development on this stretch has been slow, and work on only 29.78 km of the whole range is either entirely or partly finished. The project is likely to be ready by next year in October. Due to Covid, the work on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway was interrupted and paused. However, it has re-started again. Several flyovers, which are in the completion stage, are coming up between Kengeri and Kumbalgod. Earlier, the road had various curves, but it is being straightened out by acquiring land. A part of the bypass works at Ramanagara-Channapatna and Bidadi is finished. The highway passes by several streams and rivers, so the construction of long bridges is still ongoing. People are looking ahead towards the service roads completion, as it would not let the regional traffic merge with the highway one. Currently, the highway passes by many towns, resulting in increased traffic, extending the travel time. The project was supposed to be ready much earlier, but various issues interrupted the operational work. In the beginning, land acquisition problems hindered the road work. The project also underwent a problem with the quarry, and then due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the second wave, the work was temporarily paused many times. However, the work is resumed now. In this project, the current four-lane highway is being extended to six-lane, including two lanes as service roads on each side. As per NHAI, the highway would nearly be an access-controlled road. Several bypasses would be built as a part of this project as the highway would go by many towns. The Bengaluru-Mysuru section would have 51.75 km of Greenfield roads in the formation of bypasses: Channapatna (22.35 km), Mandya (10 km), Srirangapatna (8 km), Bidadi (6.9 km), and Maddur (4.5 km). At the Ramnagar by-pass, lay-by facilities would be developed. Kumbalgod and Srirangapatna would be the toll booth points. Under this project, the authorities have recognised 62 junctions, including the highway to build 49 underpasses and 13 flyovers so that there are no crossings at grade junctions. Moreover, nine bridges across rivers, 44 small bridges, four railway overbridges, and 69 bus stands would be constructed. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 7,400 crore. (first phase: Rs 3,900 crore and second phase: Rs 3,500 crore). After completion, the highway would reduce the driving time between Bengaluru and Mysuruto 90 minutes from 3.5 hours right now. Image Source Also read: Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway set to open in Feb 2022 Also read: Odisha govt to widen 174.5 km Biju Expressway into four lane