Bangalore: The Karnataka government on November 4 approved the first phase of 64-km Bangalore-Mysore express corridor project entrusted to the Pune based Nandi Infrastructure Enterprises (NISE).

In the first phase, the company would spend Rs 800 crore in laying a 64-km two-lane road in the outer periphery of the city linking National Highway 4 and 7, Minister for Information Kagodu Thimmappa told reporters.

It would complete the first phase of work in about two years from the date of financial closure, expected to take soon, he said, adding that in the second phase, it would expand the road into four lane in about six years.

The Cabinet, Thimmappa said, has decided to amend the Karnataka Land Reforms Act's Section 109 to empower the Deputy Commissioners of Districts to acquire land upto 10 units (one unit is equivalent to 2.5 acres) for industrial projects, to construct places of worship and housing projects.

Currently, the powers vested with the government delays the acquistion process, he said.

It was also decided to amend the Home Guards recruitment rules to provide for direct recruitment of personnel and to stipulate educational qualification standards for such recruitment, he said.

The Cabinet decided to set in motion the private participation in power distribution in all the four power transmission corporations set up in state.

The strategy paper submitted by a committee to this effect would be notified to inform the public of the details.

PTI