Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway: Petrol bunk owners refuse to vacate land

BENGALURU: The ambitious 117.3-km Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, being readied for vehicles to zip past at 100 kmph, is facing hurdles in acquiring land near both its proposed toll plazas along the route. After accepting a handsome compensation from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the project implementing agency, dealers of both these Indian Oil Corporation Limited bunks have refused to vacate and have even brought court stays, say sources.

The project intends to convert the present four-lane highway into six-lane with two service lanes on either side, thereby bringing in 10 lanes totally. A senior NHAI official said, “Due to the pandemic and issues relating to it, the Centre has now extended the deadline of Phase-I from November 2021 to February 2022. In case of Phase-II, it has been extended till September 2022.”