The signal-free corridor project from Rajajinagar to Fountain Junction (Khoday’s Junction) edged towards reality on Monday as the State government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Railways for land swap.
According to the terms of the MoU, the State government will part with three acres, 16 guntas of Binny Mill land in exchange for 26 guntas of railway land. The government has spent Rs 70 crore on acquiring the Binny Mill land.
The cost of the project, estimated at Rs 115 crore when it was proposed three years ago, has now escalated to Rs 250 crore. Simplex Infrastructure, which executed the work on the much-delayed Tagore Circle underpass, has been entrusted with the signal-free corridor project.
The project, till its completion, is expected to cause a lot of inconvenience to commuters from western and central parts of the City. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and MLA from Gandhingar, Dinesh Gundu Rao, said an alternative road behind the railway station will be opened for traffic on January 26.
The contractor will first complete the project on the railway land where vehicular traffic is minimal before taking up the work on the busy stretch, he said.
District In charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy expressed confidence that the project would be completed within 18 months.