BMIC still on paper after 30 years: Karnataka High Court asks State to rethink entire project

Observing that the ambitious Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor has failed to ease traffic or build townships, the Karnataka High Court has directed the State to re-look the project and consider a fresh plan.

The Karnataka High Court has directed the State government to re-look at the implementation of the Bangalore-Mysore Expressway and Infrastructure Corridor project, observing that the ambitious plan meant to decongest Bengaluru has remained largely unexecuted even after three decades.

A division bench comprising Justice D K Singh and Justice Venkatesh Naik T made the observation while referring to a 2021 Supreme Court judgment that had upheld the planning and construction of the project. Despite this, the High Court noted that the project has not delivered its intended outcomes.

The bench pointed out that Bengaluru’s population has now reached around 1.4 crore, yet the infrastructure corridor project, envisioned to reduce traffic congestion and promote satellite townships, has failed due to multiple factors. These include large-scale corruption, political and bureaucratic interference, and alleged violations of commitments by both parties.

Also Read:Supreme Court initiates steps to enforce 25% free seats in schools under RTE

The court noted that out of the planned 111-kilometre Bangalore-Mysore infrastructure road, only one kilometre of the expressway has been constructed by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). While the company has built 47 kilometres of peripheral roads and collects toll from them, the core expressway and township development have not progressed. Not a single township has been developed in the last 35 years.

The Infrastructure Corridor Project Technical Report (PTR), prepared in August 1995, had proposed an Integrated Infrastructure Corridor and Finance Project between Bengaluru and Mysuru. The plan included self-sustaining residential, industrial, and commercial townships, expressways, power plants, water treatment facilities, and other essential infrastructure.

To implement the project, the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Area Planning Authority (BMICAP) was constituted under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961. The project envisioned a 110-kilometre expressway connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru, along with peripheral roads linking major national highways such as NH-7, NH-4, and NH-48.

Also Read:Namma Metro goes fully digital: QR-based unlimited travel passes introduced from January 15

The court observed that the main purpose of the project, to improve civic amenities, create business opportunities, and ease traffic congestion, has remained a distant dream. It said that the futuristic idea outlined in the PTR has been effectively “killed” by prolonged delays, opposition, and administrative failures, at the cost of citizens and the environment.

Highlighting the city’s worsening traffic situation, the bench noted that commuting short distances now takes hours, infrastructure is crumbling, and environmental damage is severe. The court said keeping the old project alive serves no purpose when only one kilometre has been built in over 25 years.

The High Court concluded that it would be in the best interest of the city, its residents, and the environment for the State government to discard the existing framework and take decisions for a fresh and new project at the earliest.

The directions were issued while dismissing a petition filed by Chandrika, a landowner whose land was acquired for the project, seeking additional compensation.