MYSORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit the poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday, March 12 where he will dedicate and lay the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 16,000 crore approx.

The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Bangalore-Mysuru Expressway. The project involves six-laning of the Bangalore-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275. The inauguration of the expressway project at Mandya which is not even the midpoint between the two cities, and the Mysuru-Kushalnagar highway which only skirts the district- is not surprising.

The 118 km long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8,480 crore, a government statement said. The infrastructure project will cut the travel time between Bangalore and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 75 minutes.
The Mysuru-Khushalnagar four-lane highway's foundation stone will also be laid by the prime minister. The project, which spans 92 kilometres, would be built for about Rs 4,130 crore. It would be crucial in improving connectivity between Kushalnagar and Bengaluru and will reduce travel time from around 5 to only 2.5 hours.

After that, Modi will take a flight to Hubballi to officially dedicate IIT Dharwad to the country. In February 2019, the prime minister placed the institute's foundation stone. The institute, which was built at a cost of approximately Rs 850 crore, currently provides four-year B Tech programmes, a five-year, multidisciplinary BS-MS programme, M Tech programmes, and PhD programmes.

At Sri Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the country the longest railway platform in the world. It has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records off late. The 1,507 m long platform has been built at a cost of about Rs 20 crore.

In order to improve connectivity in the area, Modi will also dedicate the electrification of the Hosapete - Hubballi - Tinaighat stretch and the upgrading of Hosapete station.

The electrification project, developed at a cost of more than Rs 530 crore, ensures continuous train running on electric traction. Travelers can take advantage of handy and up-to-date amenities at the renovated Hosapete station. It is constructed to imitate the monuments of Hampi.

The Hubballi-Dharwad smart city's many projects will be officially launched and given the green light by the prime minister. These developments are expected to cost roughly Rs 520 crore in total.

Also, he will formally lay the foundation stone for Dharwad's Jayadeva Hospital and Research Center. The hospital will be built for around Rs 250 crore and offer tertiary cardiac care to the local population.

This is Prime Minister's sixth visit to Karnataka 2023, where the assembly elections are due in April-May.

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