Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 27: Currently the car ride to Bengaluru from the city takes about eight hours. However, if the plans now drawn up are implemented, one can reach Bengaluru from here in just about four hours time. A high quality highway with separate lanes for trucks and slow-moving vehicles will make this dream a reality.

In this highway which will conform to international standards, there will not be provision for frequent U-turns or entry into the highway directly from side roads. Vehicles transporting goods, petrol, and other things will have exclusive lanes. The union government has envisaged such highways which will be known as new generation highways. Under the ambitious project titled 'Bharatmala' visualized by the Modi government, about 20,000 km long roads will be developed all over the country in the first phase at a cost of Rs 3.8 lac crore. The entire project is planned to be completed in five years.

In these highways, slow-moving vehicles like auto rickshaws, bicycles and motor bikes will have to move on the lanes earmarked for them. As per the proposal, the existing roads will be upgraded with a minimum of four lanes on each side. In addition, improved service roads will support the highways. It is learnt that the ministry of highways has prepared report on development of 12,000 km of high speed highways.

Under the first phase of high speed highways, four highways, Mangaluru to Bengaluru, Mumbai-Kolkata, Ludhiana-Kandla and Porbandar-Silchar highways have been chosen for development under the project. These highways have been chosen on the basis of potentials for port connectivity, production areas, and link between leading business centres.

Currently, 80 percent of goods transport happens through national highways measuring 60,000 km.