Changes to BMIC project impossible, as apex court has ruled on the matter: Karnataka Deputy CM

Belagavi: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently said the government cannot make any changes to the Bengaluru Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) in view of the Supreme Court ruling.

Replying to legislators on the BMIC project during Question Hour in the Legislative Council, the DCM had said, “The BMIC project was approved in 1995 when Deve Gowda was Chief Minister. It was a plan which could have become a role model to the entire country, but unfortunately, it has not been completed. Some legislators have asked for land conversion in the area and we have created provision for online land conversion. The local planning authority has been authorized to approve the sanction plans.”

He was replying to a point raised by Congress MLC Madhu Made Gowda on whether BMIC project was required in view of the new National Highway 75.

“Local MLA Uday has discussed this issue nearly a dozen times. The three-member bench of the Supreme Court has passed an order to allow completion of the BMIC in its original form. Hence, the government can’t make any changes. There is a committee on this issue under the leadership of the Chief Secretary. A Cabinet sub-committee has also been formed under Home Minister Parameshwara. We can’t change the project, but we are here to resolve any local issues that may be there,” he explained.

‘No calls from jail’

BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur had raised the issue of prisoners in jails having access to electronic gadgets including telephones and referred to a newspaper article linking the DCM himself to a particular call.

In reply to that, Shivakumar said, “I don’t receive any such hotline calls from jails. I haven’t got any calls from jails. I don’t know what the media has carried. I would like to clarify this. I have been a Minister for Prisons and I know what transpires in jails. Don’t link that to me.”

About BMIC project

The BMIC Project was aimed at establishing a corridor between the two potent and dynamic cities of Bengaluru and Mysuru to catapult the region into a modern-day fast-track.

Capital city Bengaluru and princely Mysuru are 140 km apart, with   traffic between the two growing immensely over the years.

Both highways SH17 and SH86 connecting the two cities are narrow and pass through several settlements.

Unlimited encroachment and ribbon development along the routes had plagued the project, with statistics showing rising accident rates over the years.   The need was, therefore, felt for a rapid transit expressway corridor to realize the potential of the region.  

The Karnataka government had passed an order on 20 November 1995 for implementing the corridor project.