SH 87 (Magadi Road) as a National Highway

 

Bangalore is an ever-growing city. However, improving the connectivity to India’s Silicon City can help the governments diversify the cascading effect of the city’s economic growth, which also goes a long way in sustaining the growth. Therefore, upgrading some of the existing minor roads connecting Bangalore to certain other important places in the state into national highways can change the fate of the towns. One important road that can be upgraded into a national highway to promote further economic growth around Bangalore, as also other districts of Karnataka is the Bangalore – Magadi – Huliyurdurga – Nagamangala – KR Pet – Somwarpet – Bisle – Subrahmanya – Mangalore road (SH 85).

Bangalore-Magadi-Subrahmanya-Mangalore State Highway

The Magadi Road that starts at the Mysore Road Circle in Chamarajpet is state highway 85 that runs between Bangalore and Kasaragod covering the districts of Bangalore, Ramanagar, Tumkur, Mandya, Hassan, Coorg, and Dakshina Kannada. It touches the interior towns of Huliyurdurga, Nagamangala, KR Pet, Somwarpet, and Subrahmanya. The famous Bisle Ghat road is on SH 85. From Subrahmanya, it continues further towards Jalsoor along NH 275 and further towards Kasaragod.

Such a road would facilitate the development of interior towns in multiple districts of South Karnataka. Therefore, upgrading the existing state highways 85 (Bangalore-Subrahmanya) and 113 (Subrahmanya-Uppinangady) can be upgraded to a national highway. This would be the third national highway connecting Bangalore and Mangalore, in addition to the ones via Hassan (NH 75) and Mysore (NH 275).

Development of Magadi Road within BBMP Limits

Magadi Road is probably the most neglected among all the major roads in Bangalore. Starting from the Mysore Road circle in Chamarajpet, the road is extremely narrow for the kind of traffic it sees. The roads coming from Goripalya, Padarayanapura, Binnypet, and the crowd of the wholesale Banana market, makes commuting difficult on Magadi road that is sandwiched between the Binny Mill and the Bangalore-Mysore railway line. Binny Mill land must be acquired by the government and handed over to the railways for expanding the Bangalore City station and also to improve Magadi Road within the city.

The mess continues through the Magadi Road metro station, Kamakshi Palya, Malagala (Vrishabhavathi Nagar), Sunkadakatte, Herohalli Cross, Gollarahatti, to finally end at Tavarekere. Properties must be demolished on either side between the Leprosy Hospital and Prasanna theater for a smooth flow of traffic. The entire stretch is a messy concrete jungle without a single tree; road widening allows the BBMP to plant saplings in addition to making space for other necessary infrastructure.

At Gollarahatti where the NICE Road meets Magadi Road, the road width reduces by half, while the traffic remains the same. Why hasn’t the government widened this stretch all these years? BDA is developing the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda layout between the Mysore and Magadi roads, yet no noteworthy development has happened on the Magadi road.

Beyond Tavarekere, there are numerous blind curves up to Tippagondanahalli as one descends to the Arkavathi valley, which makes driving unsafe especially during the winters when there is intense fog. Hence this road needs to be developed.

Boost to Tourism

SH 85 has numerous spots, if developed, can massively boost tourism. First, is the Tippagondanahalli dam located amidst hills at the confluence of two rivers—Kumudwathi and Arkavathi. If developed with amenities such as a viewpoint, and a walkway, and a ropeway offering a glimpse of the backwaters up to the Goravanahalli village, this place can be a great weekend getaway for Bangaloreans. Goravanahalli, a village about 15 Km from Nelamangala, is a narrow strip of land that has the river Kumudvathi on one side and Arkavathi on the other, just before they merge into one behind Tippagondanahalli dam.

                    Goravanahalli Village is 11 Km from Nelamangala Toll Plaza on the Bangalore-Hassan NH

Rivers Kumudwathi and Arkavathi are on the left and right of the spot shown in the above picture.

River Arkavathi on the Right 

River Kumudwathi on the Left

Goravanahalli is connected by the BMTC to KR Market via Nelamangala and Yeshwanthpur.

The possibility of houseboats offering overnight stay options at the backwaters of Tippagondanahalli and Manchanabele should be explored.

Arkavathi Backwaters and Savanadurga Seen at Manchanabele

  Another View of the Arkavathi Backwaters

Magadi town that has the historical Ranganatha Swamy and Someshwara temples would be developed. Three of the nine hill forts (Nava Durgas) around Bangalore are accessible from SH 85, namely, Sawandurga, Hutridurga, and Huliyurdurga. Kempapura village that houses the mausoleum of Kempegowda can be easily accessed. Nagamangala has the historical Saumya Keshava temple.

The famous Bisle Ghat road and the Bisle viewpoint are along SH 85. The ridge point at Vanagoor is known to all. But there’s another ridge near Magadi that’s not known to many.

Towards Magadi/Bangalore

Towards Kunigal

Apart from the regions close to Bangalore such as Magadi and Huliyurdurga, there is Nagamangala that houses the famous Soumya Keshava Temple built by the Hoysala period.

Straightening the highway between Nagamangala & KR Pet provides easy access to Melkote. Following that, the road connects Ramanathapura where three famous temples—Prasanna Subrahmanya, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, and Ramanatha Swamy temples are located. Rudrapatna, the village of musicians from where people like RK Srikantan have come, is very close to Ramanathapura.

From Somwarpet onwards, the highway enters Coorg district, which is home to Abbimatta falls, Mallalli falls, Bisle ghat, etc., and finally the Kukke Subrahmanya temple.

A road that connects several places of tourism interest to a city like Bangalore, should be made a national highway.

I would also emphasize the need for rail connectivity to Magadi. The feasibility of creating a Bangalore City – Magadi – Kunigal suburban rail corridor (either along the Magadi Road or the Arkavathi pipeline road) needs to be examined by the government. BMRCL's plan to build a metro line between Hosahalli and Kadabagere in phase 3, is good but it meets the requirements of people commuting within Bangalore alone. There are always people commuting between Kunigal & Magadi and also Magadi & Bangalore. Hence building a Bangalore-Magadi-Kunigal suburban rail corridor would meet the commuting requirements of a large number of people in future.