BANGALORE: Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Bangalore-Mysuru Expressway would be inaugurated by February end.

Speaking to reporters, the Union Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi or President Droupadi Murmu would be invited for the inauguration.

Gadkari also conducted an aerial inspection of the 118-km long Ten-lane highway being built at a cost of Rs 4,473 crore.

This expressway will ensure the development of tourism in Mysuru, Srirangapatna and it will also help the IT industry," Gadkari said, adding that "after the completion, the travel time between the two cities would be 90 minutes." Currently, it takes 3 hours minimum time.

Bangalore-Chennai Expressway will be ready by March 2024.

"Chennai and Bangalore are the key metro cities of the country. The expressway cut the distance by 38 km and reduces the travel time from 5 hours to 2.15 hours. It will also cut logistic cost by four to 6%. We are also considering a forest underpass in the Bannerghatta forest area. If there is thick forest, then we will realign the route," Gadkari, said. He also stated that Karnataka is an important state and decongestion of traffic in Bangalore will be considered.

"The presentation has already been done and I have also held discussion with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai," the Union Minister said. Introduction of a double-decker sky bus with a capacity of 200 people will also be taken care.

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