Funding for four grade separators proposed at the Outer Ring Road junctions on the outskirts of the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has been rejected by the Government of India.
The grade separators were planned at the ORR–Bangalore–Mysore highway junction near Columbia Asia Hospital; on the Mysore–KRS Road–ORR junction; on the Mysore–Hunsur Road and ORR junction; and Mysore–Nanjangud Road and ORR junction near JSS College at an estimated cost of Rs. 59.40 crore.
The decision to reject the project was taken at the 135th meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMS) under the Urban Infrastructure and Government, JNNURM, held in New Delhi recently.
The minutes of the meeting posted on the website indicate that the project was one among the 14 that have been rejected for funding as they were considered non-starters, besides budgetary constraints. However, the State government is free to resubmit the project in the new phase as and when it is launched, adhering to the guidelines stipulated at that time.
The project was to be implemented by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and 80 per cent of the funding was to be met by the Union, while the balance amount had to be shared between the MUDA and the State government.
Similarly, the proposed strengthening of the Melapura drinking water scheme at a cost of Rs. 32.53 crore has been rejected.
The MUDA, in anticipation of the approval and release of funds from the government, has made budgetary provisions for the same. The project was described as essential to ease traffic congestion arising out of increase in traffic density and the widening of the ORR from a four-lane to six-lane road.
Besides, the entire stretch along the ORR has become a hub for real estate activity and development with a slew of new residential areas taking shape. This has added to the traffic density and hence the authorities had conceived the grade separators.
Meanwhile, Vasu, Chamaraja MLA, has written to the Minister for Urban Development Vinaykumar Sorake to take up the issue with the Union and strive to get the funds released.
Mr. Vasu said he was confident that the Government of India would reconsider the decision and approve the project.
The project is a must for Mysore infrastructure and the State government was committed to take it up, he added.
