Bangalore : In a bid to bring transparency and accountability to the development and maintenance of roads, the Public Works Department will launch the ‘Road Information System’, an online mechanism that provides details to the public on the status of all the roads in the State, including the physical and fiscal progress of ongoing works.

Disclosing this during his interaction with members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here on Monday, Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa said the new system, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, would be launched in about 15 days from now.

He said the aim was to avoid duplication of works by involving the public in the vigilance mechanism. He hoped that such a system would also contribute to ensuring quality in road development and maintenance works.

In addition to this, the Public Works Department would also constitute an estimate committee to verify estimates prepared for various projects to make sure they have not been overestimated, and an experts’ committee to scrutinise tenders for various projects, he said.

Tenders are being called on June 26 for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the widening of the stretch between Jewargi and Chamarajanagar on the Bidar-Chamarajanagar highway.

The DPR would have to be ready within six months.

Similarly, an agency has been identified for preparing the DPR for widening the Bangalore-Mysore highway, as well as building a bypass near Bidadi. The report, which has to be prepared within six months, would be taken up before the Union government, he said.

FKCCI president R. Shivakumar also spoke on the occasion.