The Karnataka state government is set to boost connectivity between Bengaluru and Kalyana Karnataka (North Karnataka) with a new economic corridor. According to a report by Moneycontrol, the Public Works Department (PWD) has been assigned to develop this greenfield expressway, which will be funded by the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB).
The proposed corridor will stretch across seven districts in Kalyana Karnataka—Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, and Vijayanagara—as well as Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru. The PWD has recently issued a tender to select a consultant who will prepare a pre-feasibility report. This report will evaluate the shortest route, the number of lanes required, land acquisition needs, and the potential impact of the project.
An official noted that this will be the first time the PWD is constructing a greenfield expressway. Currently, traveling between Bengaluru and Bidar takes 12-14 hours via NH 50, which connects Nanded in Maharashtra to Chitradurga in Karnataka. The new 600 km greenfield corridor aims to provide a safer, more efficient, and cost-effective route for transporting goods and people, linking key industrial zones, district headquarters, and financial centers.
The consultant will review existing alignments between Bidar and Bengaluru, propose financing options, and determine the most feasible route to stimulate economic growth in Kalyana Karnataka. The final alignment will focus on socioeconomic development, covering all seven districts and connecting major industrial and financial hubs.
Additionally, the government plans to upgrade State Highway 104, a 50 km toll-free route to Kempegowda International Airport. This road, connecting Bengaluru with Nandi Hills, is currently under renovation as part of the State Highway Development Project, which includes a 2.6 km cement concrete section costing ₹24.28 crore.
Read More: