Bangalore’s Peripheral Ring Road Project Moves Forward With Final Land Acquisition Notice

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is nearing the completion of a critical phase in the long-pending Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project.

After issuing a preliminary notification in April 2020 to acquire approximately 750 acres of land, the BDA is now preparing to finalise the acquisition process by issuing the final notification.

The PRR, designed to encircle the city's peripheries, aims to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the region. It will traverse through 10 major junctions and over 100 minor intersections, strategically placing 16 flyovers at key locations such as Hesarghatta Road, Old Madras Road, Whitefield Road, Channasandra Road, and Hosur Road, among others.

Under mounting pressure to expedite the PRR project, the BDA has been actively issuing public notices to ensure transparency and seek public input.

Recently, the agency called for objections to the acquisition of 78 acres of land in key areas such as Yelahanka, KR Puram, Bidarahalli, Varthur, Sarjapur, Dasanapura, Yeshwantpur, and Hesaraghatta hoblis. This latest notification affects 367 property owners who stand to lose their land for the project.

The 78 acres in question are part of the 750 acres initially notified for acquisition in 2020. The BDA previously issued similar public notices concerning other peripheral areas of the city, demonstrating its commitment to moving forward with the PRR.

The need for this additional land stems from a final notification issued by the BDA in June 2007 to acquire 1,810 acres. According to officials, the 750 acres are essential to address missing links in the PRR.

However, while the BDA advances with the land acquisition formalities, questions about compensation remain unresolved. The authority originally proposed compensation under the BDA Act, but affected landowners are pushing for compensation under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, which offers three times the market rate.

Initially estimated at Rs 14,000 crore, including Rs 8,000 crore for land acquisition and Rs 6,000 crore for development, the project's cost was revised to Rs 27,000 crore, factoring in Rs 21,000 crore for land acquisition due to demands for compensation per the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.

As per Deccan Herald's report, the BDA has outlined three potential compensation structures, and the matter has been forwarded to the state government for consideration. The final decision is expected to be made by the state cabinet in the coming weeks.

Peripheral Ring Road Project

This ambitious project is set to feature 16 flyovers, 10 overpasses, and 12 underpasses, enhancing the city's transportation network. Additionally, the plan includes bridges over seven water bodies, including prominent ones like Chikkatogur Lake, Gunjur Lake, and Jarakabande Lake, further facilitating seamless connectivity.

To tackle traffic intricacies, the project incorporates six cloverleaf-type over bridges, providing a solution for efficient crisscrossing without congestion.

Designs made public by the BDA showcase a 100-metre-wide greenfield expressway, featuring green spaces, utilities, underground cables, footpaths, cycle tracks, and drains.

The main carriageway, boasting eight lanes, will be flanked by service roads on both sides, with a broad median reserved for possible future integration with the metro project.

The project covers 65.95 km between Hosur Road and Tumakuru Road, with an additional 3.4 km near Madanayakanahalli and 4.08 km near Hebbagodi to link existing roads seamlessly into the PRR network.