Bengaluru, known as the silicon city, is gearing up to follow Hyderabad's strategy in building the long-delayed 74-kilometer Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, which has encountered obstacles over the past two decades. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has revealed that the state government will adopt a land-pooling model akin to Hyderabad's, where 40% of the land will be given back to the original landowners.
This suggests that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) may identify more properties for acquisition in the future. Shivakumar stated that the government does not plan to use BBMP properties as collateral, but there is a proposal to procure properties for the Peripheral Ring Road project following a 60:40 ratio. Initially, the government intended to construct the 90-meter wide ring road encircling the city by offering monetary compensation to the farmers.
The BDA estimated the land acquisition expenses at about Rs 21,000 crore, with construction costs anticipated to be approximately Rs 7,000 crore. Shivakumar expressed dissatisfaction with this plan, highlighting the difference in compensation structure for the PRR project compared to the return of 40% of developed land to farmers or landowners in layouts like Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout and Kempegowda Layout, as reported .
Through this approach, the government aims to ensure that local residents benefit from the infrastructure development, fostering a sense of shared progress and collaboration among stakeholders. The Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, designed to encircle the outskirts of Bangalore, aims to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the area.
The PRR will stretch 65.95 km from Hosur Road to Tumakuru Road, with additional sections near Madanayakanahalli (3.4 km) and Hebbagodi (4.08 km) to seamlessly integrate existing roads into the network. Key Features: Road Configuration: - 73-kilometer circular road with eight lanes (100 meters wide) and six service lanes. - Covers areas in North and East Bangalore, including Anekal. - Route starts from the NICE Road Junction on Tumkur Road, passes through Bellary Road and Old Madras Road, and concludes at National Highway-44 on Hosur Road.
- Integration points include the semi-circular NICE Road near BIEC and near Konappana Agrahara. Infrastructure: - 16 flyovers, 10 overpasses, and 12 underpasses to enhance the city's transportation network. - Bridges over seven water bodies, including Chikkatogur Lake, Gunjur Lake, and Jarakabande Lake, to facilitate seamless connectivity. - Six cloverleaf-type overbridges to efficiently address traffic complexities.
Greenfield Expressway: - 100-meter-wide greenfield expressway featuring green spaces, utilities, underground cables, footpaths, cycle tracks, and drains. - Main carriageway with eight lanes, bordered by service roads on both sides. - Broad median reserved for potential future integration with the metro project.
The project, estimated to cost around Rs 21,000 crore, will be implemented through a public-private partnership utilizing the Design-Build Finance, Operate, and Transfer model. The road developer will hold a 50-year concession to collect tolls for funding and cost recovery.
