Mandya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway at a public rally in the Mandya district of Karnataka.

The 118 km long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 84.80 billion.

It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 75 minutes. It will act as a catalyst for socio-economic development in the region.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said: “With this new road, travelling from Bengaluru to Mysuru will be possible in one hour. Ring road worth Rs 170 billion to be constructed in Bengaluru which will help in direct travelling to Mysuru. This will help in attracting more tourists. These projects will help in employment generation also,” he said.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar 4-lane highway.

Spread over 92 km, the project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 41.30 billion.

The project will play a key role in boosting the connectivity of Kushalnagar with Bengaluru and will help halve the travel time from about 5 hours to 2.5 hours.

Apart from this, PM Modi will dedicate IIT Dharwad to the nation. The foundation stone for the institute was also laid by the Prime Minister in February 2019. Developed at a cost of over Rs 8.50 billion, the institute currently offers 4-year B.Tech. programmes, inter-disciplinary 5-year BS-MS programme, M.Tech. and Ph.D. programmes.

The Prime Minister will dedicate the electrification of Hosapete - Hubballi - Tinaighat section and the upgradation of Hosapete station, for boosting connectivity in the region.

“Developed at a cost of over Rs 5.30 billion, the electrification project establishes seamless train operation on electric traction. The redeveloped Hosapete station will provide convenient and modern facilities to travellers. It has been designed to resemble the Hampi monuments,” it said.

Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city.

The total estimated cost of these projects is about Rs 5.20 billion. These efforts will enhance the quality of life by creating hygienic, safe and functional public spaces and transform the town into a futuristic urban centre.

PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of the Jayadeva Hospital and Research Centre.

The hospital will be developed at a cost of about Rs 2.50 billion and will provide tertiary cardiac care to the people of the region.

In order to further augment water supply in the region, Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, which will be developed at a cost of over Rs 10.40 billion.