D K Shivakumar.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: The Ministry of Defence has agreed to transfer 12.34 acres of army land to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to facilitate road widening between Lower Agaram and Sarjapur. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that an additional 10.77 acres will also be handed over, which is crucial for the same project.
The BBMP plans to build the new road stretching over seven-km in two phases. Shivakumar highlighted that the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time from MG Road to Bellandur — from an hour to approximately eight minutes. He expressed gratitude to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Lieutenant General Basant Kumar Repswal for their support.
The BBMP has initiated the tender process for the 3.5 km stretch, with an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore. The civic body needs 10.77 acres to extend the stretch towards Sarjapur road, covering an additional length of close to four-km. Once the remaining land is secured, the project aims to alleviate traffic congestion between the city center and the IT hub.
Additionally, Shivakumar mentioned he has submitted a request to the Defence Ministry for two acres of land to construct a tunnel near the Military Dairy Farm in Hebbal.
BBMP's engineer in chief B S Prahalad said it is a major infrastructure project of the civic body.
"We will also be building a eight-foot tall compound wall to protect the army premises by spending about Rs 5 crore. One has to travel either on Domlur or via St John's Hospital junction to reach Iblur from the city centre. To cut the travel time, we have building a new and straight road," he said.