Commuters on the Bangalore-Mysore highway will have to shell out money in the months to come as the government has taken up the upgradation of the 4-lane road to 6-lane.

The project will be implemented under the Build-operate-transfer (BOT) model through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) at a cost of INR 3,000 crore.

A meeting was convened by PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa with all MPs, MLAs and MLCs whose areas come under the project to discuss it.

National Highways Zone chief engineer C Mruthyunjaya Swamy briefed the gathering on the details of the project. In 2004-2007, KRDCL widened the road to four-lane.

The GoI declared the highway starting from Bangalore and passing through Ramanagara, Mandya, Mysore, Hunsur, Madikeri and ending at Bantwal in Mangalore district as National Highway No 275 on March 4.

The number of accidents on this highway is increasing. In 2009, there were 933 injuries and 199 fatalities, in 2010, 975 injuries and 240 fatalities, in 2011, 1,036 injuries and 248 fatalities, in 2012, 1,074 injuries and 215 fatalities and in 2013 there were 1,019 injuries and 154 fatalities, Swamy said.

"The upgradation of the highway was proposed to reduce accidents, ensure free flow of traffic, high speed and improved comfort and reduction of travel time," he added.

The traffic growth trend since 2003 has been consistently on the rise. The average traffic growth is expected to go up to 8% from current 6.5%.

Tender has been floated to appoint consultants to prepare a detailed project report which is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

There is a proposal to set up toll plazas at three places. The first one will be set up at 10 km after NICE road, the second at K Shettihalli in Mandya and third at KRS road.

The project is expected to cost INR 1,881 crore (civil work) out of which INR 861 crore is for road works, INR 400 crore for elevated corridor, INR 300 crore for underpass and grade separators, INR 25 crore for CD structures, INR 100 crore for road overbridge, INR 25 crore for road furniture and INR 170 crore for contingencies. Non-civil work would cost an estimated INR 1,119 crore.