The Union Road Transport Ministry has started work on a high-speed road link between Bengaluru and Mangaluru. They've given out a contract to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), as informed by Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed in a letter on June 4 that the DPR contract was awarded on April 30, and it's expected to take about 18 months to prepare. The proposed road, likely an eight-lane expressway through Hassan, would significantly cut down travel time and ease traffic. It would also lead to major economic growth along the route and in coastal Karnataka. 

The MP emphasized that he has been pushing for this project for a year, talking with key central and state officials.

The MP also asked the government to prepare a single DPR for both the road and a proposed new railway line along the environmentally sensitive Shiradi Ghat. Combining these would make the approval process smoother, especially for environmental clearances.