The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is moving forward with plans to develop a high-speed expressway connecting Bengaluru and Mangaluru, aiming to create an all-weather, seamless route between southern and coastal Karnataka. In July, MoRTH invited bids for a consulting firm to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), and nine firms have now submitted proposals. The contract is expected to be awarded in 2025, with the selected contractor given 540 days to complete the DPR. Construction is anticipated to begin by 2028. Spanning around 335 kilometres, the proposed four-to-six-lane expressway will pass through Hassan and include bypasses around challenging Western Ghats terrain. Once complete, it is expected to cut travel time from the current 7-8 hours significantly. Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasized the need for the project, citing Mangaluru’s limited connectivity, which impacts port development and tourism. “Mangaluru is virtually cut off from the rest of the state, and the port’s potential remains untapped due to connectivity issues,” Rao stated. He acknowledged potential environmental and financial hurdles, suggesting that Karnataka’s Public Works Department (PWD) will collaborate with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on alignment, land acquisition, and financing, possibly including township developments for economic viability. The current Bengaluru-Mangaluru route (NH-75) faces frequent landslides and seasonal closures, particularly in the Shiradi Ghat section. NHAI is addressing these bottlenecks, working on a four-lane extension of the Hassan-Sakleshpur-Maranahalli section, expected to be completed by mid-2025. Plans for the Shiradi Ghat include additional lanes with a combination of flyovers and tunnels, with a DPR underway for this section. This new expressway aims to bolster connectivity, drive economic growth, and position Mangaluru’s port as a key transport hub. (Deccan Herald)