Southern States - Karnataka   

NGOs oppose BMIC; favour road widening

By Our Staff Correspondent

Mysore July 17. There is a growing demand to shelve the proposed Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project in view of the Government's decision to make the existing highway a four-lane one at a cost of Rs. 331 crore.

The NGOs here, who have networked with similar groups elsewhere in the State, have urged the Government to couple the expansion work with doubling of the railway track between the two cities to serve socio-economic needs and to meet environmental requirements.

The Environment Support Group (ESG), which is leading the opposition to the BMIC Project, has dubbed it as the "Enron of road development". Quoting officials of the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL), who confirmed the plan to widen the existing highway, the ESG said the project entailed two lanes measuring seven metres in width in either direction with the total "right of way" pegged at 45 metres.

Although the width of the road and the median would measure only 16 metres, the "shoulder" would allow ease of passage for pedestrians, farmers, and bullock carts, and thus mitigate accidents.

The total land acquisition for this purpose between the two cities would be only 65 acres. The expansion project was expected to take care of the road geometry and straighten the existing curves to minimise mishaps. This, with doubling of the railway track, was perceived to be more viable than the BMIC, the ESG said.

On the other hand, the BMIC project envisages acquisition of 21,000 acres of prime agricultural land for the construction of a 111-km.-long express highway linking the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore with the outskirts of Mysore. In addition, five exclusive townships are to be developed along the express highway.

The BMIC is estimated to cost Rs. 2,000 crore and entails displacement of nearly 1.9 lakh farmers and landless labourers.

The project has been mired in controversy since its inception, and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests issued the environmental clearance (EC) but with a rider that the EC was only for the road and not the townships.

The opposition to BMIC has intensified following the Government's declaration that the work on the project would commence from both ends soon. The NGOs here have urged the Government to explore alternatives which are cost effective, does not require large-scale land acquisition, and consequently does not entail displacement of agricultural workers.

They aver that the proposed expansion of the existing road, improving the alternative route via Kanakapura and Malavalli, and doubling of the railway track will serve the needs of the people better than the express highway.

The ESG cited a report, which studied the volume of traffic between Mysore and Bangalore, and pointed out that the existing traffic did not justify the express highway. The NGOs, who have questioned the commitment of HUDCO, have raised certain pertinent points. They asked even if HUDCO had the money to fund the projects, was it necessary to have two new highways between Bangalore and Mysore?

The ESG referred to a circular by the Reserve Bank of India released to financial institutions on funding infrastructure wherein it was clearly stated that only such projects, which were intrinsically viable, should be financed. The RBI had also cautioned against being co-opted by State Government guarantees which, it said, was no substitute for satisfactory credit appraisal.

In view of the RBI directives, the financial institutions should back off from the BMIC project, the ESG said.

In view of the proposed expansion of State Highway No.17, the Government should desist from supporting the BMIC and instead take up doubling of the railway track to help decongest Bangalore and boost the economy of Mandya, Mysore, and Chamarajanagar districts, the NGOs said.

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