In a significant development for Karnataka’s transport infrastructure, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has appointed a consultant to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a high-speed corridor between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The agreement with the DPR consultant was signed on April 30, 2025, and the report is expected to be completed in 18 months.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the development in a letter to Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, who expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gadkari, and key officials for advancing the ambitious project.
According to Chowta, the expressway—expected to feature four to eight lanes—will pass through Hassan and significantly boost connectivity between the two major cities. Once completed, the corridor will ease congestion, reduce travel time, and provide safer, faster, and year-round connectivity.
The high-speed highway is anticipated to not only uplift Mangaluru’s infrastructure but also stimulate broader development across South Karnataka, aiding sectors like tourism, trade, commercial logistics, and particularly the New Mangalore Port.
Chowta also shared that the Ministry of Railways is simultaneously working on a DPR for a dedicated rail line through Shiradi Ghat, a challenging stretch within the Western Ghats’ ecologically sensitive zone. To address environmental and engineering concerns, a joint committee of the Railway Board and NHAI has been proposed to assess the feasibility of constructing a parallel road and railway line in the region.
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