Overview

• The ministry signed the DPR contract on April 30, officially appointing a consultant to draft feasibility plans for the expressway.
• The Railway Ministry agreed to prepare a separate DPR for a new rail line through the ecologically sensitive Shiradi Ghat to strengthen multi-modal links.
• A proposed joint committee of the Railway Board and NHAI aims to coordinate road and rail alignments and simplify environmental clearances.
• Ongoing work to widen the existing NH 75 into four lanes since 2017 remains unfinished, underscoring the need for a dedicated high-speed corridor.
• Officials and MPs anticipate the corridor will boost trade, tourism and port-related commerce across South Karnataka once built.