The State Government has proposed to widen 37,000 km of major district roads (MDR) in the next five years for smooth movement of traffic.

Minister for Public Works C.M. Udasi told that the width of major district roads in the State would be increased to seven metres from the present four or five. The cost of the project would be finalised in a week.

The State had 3,958 km of national highways, 18,648 km of State highways, 37,000 km of major district roads, 8,366 km of municipal roads, and 1,47,212 km of other district and village roads.

A decision had been taken to develop 3,411 km of State roads at an estimated cost of Rs. 6,246 crore under the Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project II (KSHIP-II), he said.

The State Government had decided to obtain $ 630 million credit from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for executing the KSHIP-II.

Under the KSHIP-I, which began in 2001 with the World Bank credit, 2,414 km of State highway had been developed at a cost of Rs. 2,030 crore, he said. About Rs. 130 crore had been released to fill potholes.

Several roads were damaged on account of heavy rains that lashed several districts in the last few days, Mr. Udasi said.

Asked about the damage caused to the newly laid stretch of National Highway 48 of Shiradi Ghat on Bangalore-Mangalore Highway, he said a report had been sought from the officials concerned. The road would be repaired and widened after consultation with the Forest Department and National Highway Authority of India.

The ghat section of the road was developed at a cost of Rs. 35 crore last summer. But potholes and patches had surfaced at several locations along the 35-km stretch.

Following the poor road condition, the Dakshina Kannada district administration had banned the movement of heavily loaded vehicles from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the ghat section till September end.