74-Km Bangalore Peripheral Ring Road Advances: BDA Nears Completion Of Land Acquisition

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.

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.

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.

The PRR 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 flyovers at key locations such as Hesarghatta Road, Old Madras Road, Whitefield Road, Channasandra Road, and Hosur Road.

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 will have eight lanes flanked by service roads on both sides with a broad median reserved for possible future integration with the metro project.

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. 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.

However, while the BDA advances with 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 costs were 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 forwarded them to state government for consideration." The final decision is expected to be made by state cabinet in coming weeks.

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

The BDA previously issued similar public notices concerning other peripheral areas of city demonstrating its commitment moving forward with PRR.

The PRR designed encircle city's peripheries aims alleviate traffic congestion improve connectivity region.

The project's cost was revised due demands compensation per Land Acquisition Act.

This latest notification affects property owners who stand lose their land project.

The authority originally proposed compensation under BDA Act but affected landowners pushing compensation under Land Acquisition Act which offers three times market rate.