<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for the construction of an elevated corridor at Rani Chennamma Circle in Hubballi today in a virtual mode. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Speaking on the occasion, the Minister announced that a decision is taken for 13 highway projects of 847 kilometres at a cost of Rs 21,000 crore in North Karnataka. This will include four laning of Hubballi-Dharwad bypass and Dharwad-Belagavi stretch of the highway. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, who took part in the event through video conference, said that construction of the elevated corridor at Rani Chennamma Circle and construction of bridge over Bedthi channel will ease traffic in Ankola-Gooty highway. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He appreciated the Central Government's financial assistance to invest Rs 1.16 lakh crore for the development of highways in the state. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi was present in the event along with State Ministers Govind Karjol and Jagadish Shetter.</span><br />''