Kushalnagar–Mysuru Highway Gets Wildlife Board Approval for Key Clearances

The 100-km stretch is planned to be executed in four phases.

Bengaluru: The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board has given its nod to two major infrastructure proposals, including the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) plan to develop the greenfield NH-75 corridor between Kushalnagar and Mysuru.

The committee met recently under the chairmanship of Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre, according to a TNIE report.

As part of the ₹4,130-crore initiative, the NHAI has requested permission to utilise roughly 54 hectares of land falling within the eco-sensitive areas surrounding Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary and the buffer region of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. The 100-km stretch is planned to be executed in four phases.

The panel also endorsed the Public Works Department’s (PWD) proposal to upgrade the road leading to the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, a move expected to improve access for residents living within the forested zone. According to the TNIE report, the Sharavathi road work aligns with the broader plans connected to the pumped-storage hydropower project in the region.

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Minister Khandre stated that the government has agreed to recommend the diversion of 0.976 hectares of forest land in the Sharavathi valley for clearance by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). He noted that both project applications were filed through the Parivesh portal in September and will now be forwarded to the NBWL’s Standing Committee, as they involve areas within protected wildlife habitats.

The new greenfield highway is expected to notably cut travel duration between Bengaluru and Kushalnagar, thereby easing connectivity for commuters moving towards Madikeri, Mangaluru, and other western regions. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project in March 2023, progress on the ground has been minimal owing to persistent land acquisition challenges. Officials cited disagreements over compensation, documentation lapses among property holders, and pending court cases as key reasons for the delay.

Once operational, the highway is likely to decongest Mysuru city significantly. With the route originating from Srirangapatna, vehicles travelling towards Hunsur, Periyapatna, Kodagu, and parts of northern Kerala will be able to bypass Mysuru entirely, improving overall traffic flow in the region.

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