UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 1 km built in 25 years: HC asks Karnataka to scrap BMIC project
Q1. Under the 1997 Framework Agreement of the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, which of the following components had the LARGEST share of land earmarked for it?
- A. The 111-km tolled access-controlled expressway
- B. The 41-km peripheral road around Bengaluru
- C. The five planned satellite townships
- D. The 9.1-km link road
Q2. With reference to the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project as originally conceived in 1995 and formalised through the 1997 Framework Agreement, consider the following components:
1. A 111-km tolled expressway linking Bengaluru and Mysuru
2. Five satellite townships along the corridor
3. A dedicated semi-high-speed rail corridor parallel to the expressway
4. A peripheral road of about 41 km around Bengaluru
Which of the above are correctly identified as components of the BMIC project?
- A 111-km tolled expressway linking Bengaluru and Mysuru
- Five satellite townships along the corridor
- A dedicated semi-high-speed rail corridor parallel to the expressway
- A peripheral road of about 41 km around Bengaluru
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q3. Which authority issued the statutory notifications for acquiring land for the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project?
- A. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
- B. Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB)
- C. Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL)
- D. Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA)
Q4. In the context of the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, what does the term 'Framework Agreement (FWA)' precisely refer to?
- A. A tripartite agreement among the Government of India, the Government of Karnataka and NICE Ltd. setting toll rates and viability-gap funding for the corridor
- B. The 1997 bilateral agreement between the Government of Karnataka and NICE Ltd. specifying the land to be handed over and the corridor, peripheral road, link road and townships to be built
- C. A 1995 Memorandum of Understanding between the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board and NICE Ltd. for acquisition of 26,488 acres of land
- D. A concession agreement signed under the National Highways Act, 1956 giving NICE Ltd. operate-and-maintain rights over the Bengaluru–Mysuru corridor
Q5. With reference to the Bengaluru–Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, consider the following statements:
1. The project was conceived in 1995 and the Framework Agreement was signed in 1997 between the Karnataka government and NICE Ltd.
2. The original project envisaged five new townships in addition to the expressway and peripheral road.
3. Of the 111-km expressway envisaged, only about 1 km had been built by the time the Karnataka High Court ordered the project's scrapping in January 2026.
4. The Karnataka High Court's January 2026 verdict scrapping the BMIC was delivered by a Bench of the Supreme Court of India sitting at Bengaluru in its original jurisdiction.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The project was conceived in 1995 and the Framework Agreement was signed in 1997 between the Karnataka government and NICE Ltd.
- The original project envisaged five new townships in addition to the expressway and peripheral road.
- Of the 111-km expressway envisaged, only about 1 km had been built by the time the Karnataka High Court ordered the project's scrapping in January 2026.
- The Karnataka High Court's January 2026 verdict scrapping the BMIC was delivered by a Bench of the Supreme Court of India sitting at Bengaluru in its original jurisdiction.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4