Bengaluru News: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced a major development for Bengaluru at the Karnataka BJP special state executive committee meeting. Promising two big projects for the city, the minister revealed plans to inaugurate both the Greenfield Corridor connecting Bengaluru and Chennai, and the Bengaluru Satellite Township Ring Road (STRR) project by December 2024. These initiatives, aimed at tackling Bengaluru's traffic issues, are expected to bring substantial relief to commuters.

Bengaluru Satellite Township Ring Road

The STRR project, valued at Rs 17,000 crore, is scheduled for completion ahead of schedule, aiming to link Bengaluru's outskirts such as Dobbspet, Ramanagara, Magadi Road, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Hoskote, Sarjapur, and Hosur. Designed to reduce intra-city traffic by up to 30 percent, the foundation stone for STRR was laid in June 2022.

In addition, the Greenfield Corridor, with an estimated cost of Rs 17,930 crore, has been in development for six years and is poised to open by the end of this year, significantly cutting travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai to just two hours.

Gadkari emphasized Karnataka's substantial investment in road transport over the past decade, totaling Rs 3.5 lakh crore, with each Member of Parliament from the state receiving funding for local projects. However, he expressed concerns over delays in several road projects due to environmental and forest clearances, urging the state government to expedite these processes.

Regarding future funding, Gadkari assured that the Centre is prepared to undertake Rs 2 lakh crore worth of road projects in Karnataka, pending necessary clearances. He also criticized opposition parties, particularly the Congress, accusing them of indulging in appeasement politics and reaffirming BJP's commitment to justice and equality for all communities.

The announcements come amidst ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure and mobility in Bengaluru, reflecting the government's dedication to addressing urban challenges and ensuring sustainable development across the region.