GOOD PROGRESS: Work on the Mysore-Kushalnagar road is under way on a stretch at Hootagalli in Mysore on Friday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: The upgrading work of Mysore-Kushalnagar Road (to connect Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district) has progressed considerably in the last one-and-half years and nearly 70 km of the 86.66-km stretch roadwork has been completed.

The remaining work, including construction of a railway overbridge at Kalamandira Circle here, water pipeline replacement work at Periyapatna, is targeted to be completed by April 2008, ahead of the time set (May 2008) for the Rs. 115 crore project, launched by Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL).

On an average, 17,000 vehicles ply on the State highway, which connects Hunsur, Periyapatna, Bylakuppe and Kushalnagar. Owing to heavy traffic density on the stretch, the Government decided to upgrade the highway, which is four-lane for 25 km from the city till the road junction for proceeding to K.R. Nagar town, and the rest two-lane.

The two-lane highway, instead of seven metre standard width, will be of nine-metre width with provision for "paved shoulder" (for the exclusive movement of two-wheelers and bullock carts).

`Made safe'

The Bilikere Lake stretch, which witnesses a number of accidents because of the steep tank bund and curves, had been made "safe" for traffic movement by developing a straight road of 300-metre length which connects to the bypass road near Hollanehalli. "The roadwork is under progress complying the modern-day road construction standards. The quality and quantity is being maintained. The contractors are hoping to finish the road laying work by January 2008. In the next three months, the road will get finer finish with bituminous concrete and road furniture such as signage and markings will be completed," said KRDCL Assistant Executive Engineer Ravindra Kumar.

Mr. Kumar told The Hindu that the railway overbridge at Kalamandira Circle, which was delayed owing to technical reasons, would be completed in another three months. "The height of the bridge will be raised by 30 cm to facilitate running of electric trains," he said. Prior to the launch of roadwork, the road was surveyed with the support of Superintendent of Police, Mysore, to identify accident spots and work out measures to reduce accidents by improving the road in a scientific manner, Mr. Kumar said.

High-speeding driving on several stretches was not possible because of "geometrical deficiencies" on the road. "All these are being cleared scientifically, focusing on fuel efficiency on some stretches where vehicles consumed more fuel because of gradients. Once the roadwork is done, it will be more safe to travel," he said. Nine per cent of road gradients had been reduced to 4.4 per cent, which would make travel safe and allow high-speed driving, the official said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu