Bengaluru: Sole Bidder Emerges For Rs 27,000 Crore Peripheral Ring Road Project

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has received a solitary bid from a Chennai-based company for the construction of the 73-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), an ambitious project with an estimated investment of Rs 27,000 crore.

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

BDA officials expressed contentment with the response, considering the project's history of failed attempts to secure contractors. Previously, only two firms had participated in the bidding process. Despite initial expectations of increased interest following a pre-bid meeting attended by three firms, including an Adani subsidiary, the participation remained limited.

Under the tender specifications, the bidding company is required to deposit Rs 300 crore in the BDA's account. Both technical and financial evaluations will be conducted, adhering to the election code of conduct guidelines.

A senior BDA official highlighted the challenge of the project's financing model, with the selected company expected to fund both land acquisition and construction costs. The estimated land acquisition expense amounts to approximately Rs 21,000 crore, a factor that may deter private sector interest, reports Deccan Herald.

The tender mandates the bidder to disburse the land acquisition funds in two instalments over 90 months from the contract signing date. The lack of clarity regarding land acquisition structures, including adherence to state or central compensation laws, may have contributed to the limited response.

BDA officials revealed a proposed combination of compensation frameworks, pending final approval from the state cabinet. The decision, originally scheduled for last week, was deferred. In efforts to enhance project appeal, the BDA omitted service roads from the scope of work and advocated for reduced guidance values along the 73-km route to bolster toll collection.

Bengaluru Peripheral Ring Road 

This ambitious project is set to feature sixteen flyovers, ten overpasses, and twelve 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-m-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 potential future integration with the metro project.

The project covers a length of 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.