The proposed 23-km tunnel road at Shiradi Ghat will be constructed without cutting a single tree, PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa said in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.
He said the proposal has been submitted to the Union Finance Ministry, which has apparoached the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for funding. The tunnel road will be first of its kind in the country, and it is estimated to cost about Rs 10,000 crore, he added.
Besides, he said the National Highways Authority of India has approved a project to upgrade 63.52 km of road between Addahole in Sakleshpur in Hassan district and BC Road in Dakshina Kannada district. The project has been awarded to Larsen & Toubro Ltd. The work is expected to start in November this year, he added.