BANGALORE: After the ELRTS, the long-delayed Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor might be the next casualty, with the state government on Monday indicating the project would be dropped if the promoters insisted on aspects like townships, which have not been cleared by the Centre.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has reportedly given the go-ahead for the ultra-modern high-speed corridor between Bangalore and Mysore but has put on hold the proposal of creating townships along the highway.

Speaking to reporters here, Public Works Minister Dharam Singh said: ``Though townships form a part of the project proposal we are more interested in the road. So if the promoters insist on them, we have to let go. However, the department is yet to examine the clearance given by MoEF.''

Singh also pointed out that final approval, with regard to certain exemptions, was still pending before the state government. ``It will be cleared soon. We will see how the promoters react after that,'' he stated.

Meanwhile, the state government has also doubled the amount for upgrading the existing Bangalore-Mysore road from the existing two-lane to four-lane at an estimated expenditure of Rs 300 crore, up from the earlier Rs 156 crore.

``Work on the first phase costing Rs 97 crore, from Bangalore to Maddur, will begin shortly, and be completed in 15 months. We have approached Hudco for funding and it has agreed in principle,'' he stated.

Singh said the government was also proposing more value-added services along the highway like restaurants and rest rooms.

WORLD BANK REVIEW: Singh said a World Bank team reviewed the Rs 2,030 crore 2,300 km Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (K-SHIP) on Monday. ``Work is expected to start in 18 districts. We finished the appraisal report within 22 months though the target was 24 months. The WB was impressed with the progress,'' he added.