The gem of southern India, Karnataka is adorned with some of the most beautiful tourist spots that India has to offer. Besides that, the state is also home to the country’s IT hub, Bengaluru. However, the string of developments doesn’t stop there.
Both the state and the central government are collaboratively working to introduce a variety of new reforms and infrastructural development in the state that’s bound to change the course of things in the next few years.
This article will focus on some of the most critical Karnataka Mega Projects that are either under construction already or are going to be started in the next few years.
Top Upcoming Mega Projects in Karnataka 2024
Following are all the top upcoming Karnataka Megaprojects worth knowing about.
1. Chennai Mysore High-Speed Rail
High-speed rail corridors are going to change the country’s future, especially when it comes to communication and adaptability. Among them, the Chennai Mysore High-Speed Rail is an under-construction project that’s India’s third high-speed rail corridor.
The corridor will cover a distance of 435 km between Chennai and Mysore and will go through nine stations in between. According to the reports, the high-speed rail corridor will be built parallel to the existing railway stations between these two cities.
Only two specific chunks of location from Bangarapet and Vaniyambadi and Katpadi and Arakkonam will need to be constructed separately since it has a hilly terrain and require more precision and safety. The state government is said to provide the land for the project while the cost of the project will be borne by the central government.
2. Shivamogga Airport
Initially called the Shivamogga Airport, it has been renamed to Kuvempu Airport and will be serving the city of Shivamogga in Karnataka. Initially, the airport was set to be constructed under the PPP model but things fell through and a lot of delays were experienced.
This led to the suspension of the project temporarily in 2015. However, in 2020, the state chief minister, B.S Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone and the construction for this airport started again. The estimated cost for the construction would be INR 4.5 billion.
Reports suggest that the airport will be constructed in two phases. The first phase of the airport has been constructed and has been operational since February 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the opening.
3. Bangalore Chennai Industrial Corridor
Next up on the list of infrastructural developments happening in Karnataka is the Bangalore Chennai Industrial Corridor. This is an upcoming megaproject and will go through cities including Chennai, Sriperumbudur, Ponnapanthangal, Ranipet, Suburbans of Vellore, Chittoor, Bangarupalem, Palamaner, Bangarpet, Hoskote and Bangalore.
The main intent behind the construction of this industrial corridor is to ensure an economic boost by streamlining commerce between South India and East Asia. This is one of the five industrial corridors in India.
We couldn’t find any confirmed details regarding the budget yet but because the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor will cost $100 billion, we can expect the same for the Bangalore-Chennai one too.
4. Raichur Airport
The Raichur Airport that we currently have is an airstrip that was constructed in 1942 and has been operational for minor flying since then. However, with the kind of hustle that the city of Raichur gets, there has been a proposal to turn this airstrip into a full-fledged airport.
The approval for expanding the construction to include an 1800 m long runway for the operation of ATR-72 aircraft was passed by the Airports Authority of India in 2021. Since then, construction has been ongoing.
A total of 402 acres of land has been provided by the Karnataka Government for this project and the construction of the project is happening at Yeramus, according to the available information.
5. Bangalore Satellite Town Ring Road
The Bangalore Satellite Town Ring Road is an under-construction 4-6 lane expressway that will span across a distance of 280.8 km. This route is aligned across the state of Karnataka and will cover 12 different towns, including Dobbasapete, Doddaballapura, Devanahalli, Sulibele, Hoskote, Sarjapura, Attibele, Anekal, Tattekere, Kanakapura, Ramanagara and Magadi. This is one of the most required project among the Karnataka Megaprojects.
The project has been approved and the construction is happening under Bharatmala Pariyojna Lot-3 and will be built in three phases. The project will also involve the construction of NH-948A and realignment of existing NH-648.
For the completion of this project, STRR has given a deadline until 2025 and with the land acquisition in 2018 and the ongoing construction, we can hope things will be streamlined soon. The total estimated cost for the project is Rs. 17,000 crore.
6. Vijayapura/Bijapur Airport
Rumored to be named Jagatjyoti Shri Basaveshwar Airport, the airport is an under-construction Greenfield airport that will be operational in Vijayapura in Karnataka. The project has been undertaken by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC).
The budget for this project has been set at Rs. 220 crore and is spread across an area of 727 acres of land in an area that’s around 15 km away from the main city. According to the reports, the airport was supposed to be completed by 2023 but there are no confirmed insights yet.
Smaller aircraft, the airport’s completion is expected to handle larger aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, which means that it will serve as a functional commercial airport too.
7. Bangalore Suburban Rail Project
The Bangalore Suburban Rail Project or the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project is an approved and under-construction rail project and a rail network that will span across 64 stations in Karnataka. The total estimated distance is around 149.34 km.
RITES was the one that generated the feasibility report for the project and suggested that 4 lines or corridors would be enough for the entirety of the project. The estimated cost of the entire project is Rs. 15,767 crore and will be constructed by Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE). The estimated deadline for the project is 2026 but there’s not much information available yet about the project of the construction.
8. Hassan Airport
Another upcoming airport in Karnataka that’s expected to change the course of travel for the state’s inhabitants and visitors is the Hassan Airport. This is yet another Greenfield project that’s set to be done at the Boovanahalli village, which is roughly around 6 km from Hassan.
Following its initial approval, the project was later temporarily stopped in 2012 due to insufficiency of funds. However, later in 2021, the project was revived again and is set to be constructed under the UDAN scheme. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 175 crore.
The project’s land acquisition was offered by the State government and the project is being developed under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. The cost of the construction will be divided among the state and central government.
9. Bangalore Chennai Expressway
The Bangalore Chennai Expressway, abbreviated as the NE-7 is an under-construction Greenfield expressway spanning across a distance of 258 km that will connect the cities of Bengaluru and Chennai. The project will start from Hoskote in Bengaluru to Sriperumbudur in Chennai.
The reports suggest that the final construction and operation of this expressway will enable vehicles to be driven at a speed of 120 km/hr, making the traveling experience smooth and hassle-free. The project was given to the National Expressway on January 01, 2021, with an estimated budget of Rs. 17,930 crore.
According to the official information, the project is going to be completed by March 2024. Two places Mepladi and Ponapanthangal will offer intersection points in this expressway.
10. New Bellary Airport
The New Bellary Airport is another upcoming airport project in Karnataka which will be a Greenfield airport that will serve Bellary. The survey work was initiated in 2020 and since the current Bellary airport is quite small and not suitable for commercial flights, the new stretch will change that.
The new airport will be constructed around 12 km away from Bellary and will be built on around 900 acres. This will account for the 10th airport in the state of Karnataka. During its initial proposal in 2008, the project was met with a lot of resistance by the farmers.
There’s not a lot of information about the project’s budget and the breakdown of the construction, which will happen in phases.
11. Bangalore Vijayawada Expressway
India is set to have a record number of expressways to streamline communication and travel experience and among them; the Bangalore Vijayawada Expressway is another one that will change the way people commute from Bangalore to Vijayawada.
The total distance that will be covered in this expressway is around 518 km and will be a 4-6 lane expressway with its routes aligned from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The project is being built under the Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) Phase 2 and will go through the cities of Kadapa.
According to official reports, the total estimated cost for the project is Rs. 19,320 crore and will allow vehicles to go up to a speed of 120 km/hr and will be constructed under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
12. Devanahalli Business Park
Accounted as the “Bengaluru Signature Business Park,” the Devanahalli Business Park is an under-construction IT park that is being constructed in Devanahalli. The project is being constructed on an area of 407 acres. Devanahalli Business Park is one of the most ambitious Karnataka Megaprojects.
This will serve as a new start-up park that will house a variety of amazing companies and will also generate employment for a variety of people and IT professionals.
DBP is envisaged as a world-class business park that will attract leading companies from around the world. It will offer a range of commercial and industrial spaces, including office buildings, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. DBP will also have several social and recreational amenities, such as shopping malls, hotels, and restaurants. The project is being constructed near the Kempegowda International Airport and will be connected to other parts of Karnataka as well.
13. Bangalore Peripheral Ring Road
The Bangalore Peripheral Ring Road is another 8-lane access-controlled expressway that will span across a distance of 74 km and is set to connect Tumakuru and Hosur roads. It will be the third ring road around the city, after the Inner Ring Road and Outer Ring Road.
The PRR is expected to alleviate traffic congestion in Bangalore by providing a bypass for long-distance traffic. It will also connect major highways and industrial areas, and boost economic development in the region.
The project was initially proposed in the 1990s but was briefly canceled and put on hold. It was delayed due to several challenges, including land acquisition and environmental clearances. However, the project was revived in 2022 and is now expected to be completed by 2027. The completion of the project will impact transportation and development significantly.
14. Pune Bangalore Expressway
The Pune Bangalore Expressway is another popular and proposed access-controlled expressway that’s going to connect Bengaluru with Pune.
It is being developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-II and will pass through 12 districts in Karnataka and Maharashtra, and is expected to be completed by 2028. It will be the first expressway to connect Bangalore and Pune directly and is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities by half.
Not just that, the construction of the project will also contribute to an economic boost in the region by connecting major cities and industrial areas. Also, it is expected to reduce the risks of road accidents and other kinds of casualties. It will also reportedly reduce emissions.
So here is the some worth highlighting Karnataka Megaprojects 2024 that you have to aware of it. We hope that you got all the information about the Upcoming Karnataka Megaprojects that are happening in this rapidly transforming state.
Conclusion
Karnataka Megaprojects is set to change the face of the state in the upcoming few days. If you were concerned about how things would change in Karnataka concerning the transport, commute, and industrial forefront, we hope this article explains everything that you can expect in the future.
The majority of the projects are under construction and are proposed projects, which mean that the construction will be finished in the next few years or the upcoming decade. We will keep adding to this list with more projects that are proposed shortly.