Date:08/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090810350400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Leading firms in race to bag three highway projects

P. Manoj

They will improve connectivity and reduce travel time in the State

The players include Lanco Infrastructure, Nagarjuna Construction Company and Reliance Energy

The projects are being developed on the direct tolling format

Bangalore: Some of the leading private firms are in the race to bag three major highway projects that will improve connectivity and reduce travel time in the State. Lanco Infrastructure and Nagarjuna Construction Company have submitted their financial bids for the 180-km-long four-lane highway project between Nelamangala and Hassan on National Highway 48.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has bid out the project in two packages of 80 km with each package costing Rs. 440 crore, officials said. The Nelamangala-Hassan stretch currently has a traffic count of 15,000 passenger car units (PCUs) per day. The traffic count is expected to grow substantially once the SEZ projects in Hassan and Mangalore and the expansion of ONGC's refinery in Mangalore are completed.

Reliance Energy, Gammon India and Soma Constructions have submitted bids for developing the 80-km-long highway connecting Bangalore with Mulbagal via Hoskote and Kolar at a cost of Rs. 560 crore. Out of the 80 km, 64 km will be a four-lane highway while the balance 16 km will be six-lane.

The traffic count on the Bangalore-Hoskote stretch is currently at 45,000 PCUs per day, between Hoskote and Kolar 25,000 PCUs per day and from Kolar to Mulbagal it is 15,000 PCUs per day.

The NHAI is close to finalising the private operator for developing the 20 km-long highway stretch between Bangalore and Nelamangala at a cost of Rs. 440 crore.

Soma Constructions and Navyug Constructions have submitted financial bids for the project that will have 4.5 km of four-lane elevated highway and 15.5 km of access-controlled six-lane highway. The Bangalore-Nelamangala section on National Highway 4 is one of the busiest sections in the State and currently has a traffic density of 1,30,000 PCUs per day.

All the three major highway projects are being developed on the direct tolling format.

Officials said that highway development projects are being lined up on the 84 km-long stretch linking Belgaum-Goa-Karnataka border on National Highway 4A, the 71 km-long section between Kundapur and Suratkal on National Highway 17 and the 18 km-long highway connecting Mangalore with Karnataka/Kerala border also on National Highway 17.