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The BMIC project, divided into three sections, includes a 41-km peripheral road, a 9-km link road, and the 13-km expressway to Bidadi.
In June, NICE Ltd. proposed merging its expressway at Hemmigepura with National Highway (NH) 275 near Bidadi. (Photo: India.com)
A long-discussed 13-km expressway connecting Bidadi and Hemmigepura in Bengaluru, part of a 1995 agreement between the government and Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), is back in focus.
However, the proposal will only move forward if two significant issues are resolved, as per Deccan Herald. First, the government needs to return 13,418 acres of land, originally earmarked for the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), to farmers. Second, around 2,351 acres of “excess” land, acquired by NICE Ltd. but not part of the original agreement, must be returned.
This expressway is part of Section A of the BMIC project, which also includes a 41-km peripheral road and a 9-km link road. While NICE Ltd. has completed most of the peripheral and link roads, progress on the expressway has been slow.
The final stages of the project involve extending the expressway to Mysuru and developing four townships, which have not yet begun.
In June, NICE Ltd. proposed merging its expressway at Hemmigepura with National Highway (NH) 275 near Bidadi. This would create a toll road, benefiting NICE Ltd. and easing congestion for drivers travelling to the southern and eastern parts of Bengaluru from Mysuru, especially as the current 10-lane expressway often gets clogged.
According to Deccan Herald, the state Cabinet is expected to make a final decision on the merger and the two other contentious issues. Meanwhile, the Urban Development Department (UDD) has expressed support for extending the NICE expressway. They argue that merging the two expressways will contribute to the development of surrounding villages, which are set to be part of the Greater Bengaluru planning area.
Previously, the Karnataka Industries Areas Development Board (KIADB) handed over 4,341 acres of land to NICE Ltd. for the project. However, a report from the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre revealed that around 3,371 acres of this land remains unused.
