NEW DELHI — A delegation of Members of Parliament from Karnataka, led by Chikkodi MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, met with the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, in New Delhi to submit a memorandum seeking urgent final approval and prioritization of the proposed 6/8-lane Pune–Bengaluru Greenfield Expressway project.
The high-speed corridor is viewed as a vital infrastructure link for the overall economic development of North Karnataka.
“This project is of utmost importance to North Karnataka, as it will give a fresh push to industry, agriculture, tourism, investment, and job creation across the region,” MP Priyanka Jarkiholi stated following the meeting.
Key Requests Submitted to the Ministry
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted that essential preliminary requirements, including the Draft Detailed Project Report (DPR), have already been completed.
1. Fast-Tracking Pune–Bengaluru Greenfield Expressway
- Final Approval & Tendering: The delegation urged the Ministry to issue final administrative clearances so that the tendering process can commence without delay.
- Economic Boost: The 700-km-long access-controlled expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Pune and Bengaluru while boosting connectivity through several districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
2. Black Spot Remediation on Key Highways
- NH-50 & NH-67 Safety Upgrades: The delegation submitted a request for comprehensive road safety works at critical accident-prone “black spots” along National Highway 50 and National Highway 67.
- Urgent Interventions: The request called for structural safety measures to reduce fatalities and streamline traffic flow on these heavily traveled routes.
Regional Impact
The proposed Greenfield Expressway is designed to bypass highly congested urban stretches, providing a direct, high-capacity economic corridor. Leaders from North Karnataka emphasize that accelerated implementation will improve logistics for regional agriculture and manufacturing hubs, connecting local industries directly to major commercial centers in neighboring states.
Pune–Bengaluru Expressway: Key Details (Short)
- Project: 8-lane, access-controlled greenfield expressway under the Bharatmala Programme.
- Length: Approximately 700 km.
- Estimated Cost: Around ₹50,000 crore.
- Top Speed: Designed for speeds up to 120 km/h.
- Travel Benefits:
- Reduces travel distance by about 95 km.
- Cuts travel time from 11–12 hours to around 7–8 hours.
- Route: Starts near Varee Budruk (Satara district, Maharashtra) and passes through Satara, Sangli, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Gadag, Koppal, Ballari, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, before ending in Bengaluru.
- Major Features:
- 55 flyovers
- 22 interchanges
- 6 Road Over Bridges (ROBs)
- 14 highway intersections
- 2 emergency airstrips
- Crosses 10 rivers, including the Krishna, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra.
- Current Status:
- Route alignment finalized.
- Over 70% land acquisition completed.
- Environmental clearance is in the final stage.
- Major construction is expected to begin after approvals, with a target completion by 2028.
