The Peripheral Ring Road project, which promises seamless connectivity along city outskirts, has moved closer to reality. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the implementing agency, has begun awarding tenders for land acquisition under Phase 1 of the project connecting Tumkur Road, Bellary Road, Old Madras Road and Hosur Road.
Phase 1 of PRR involves six-lane road construction of a total length of 65 km. They have to acquire a total land area of 1,980 acres along the project alignment. It will take 36 to 40 months to complete the project whose estimated cost is Rs 5,800 crore.
As part of the project procedures, the BDA and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Monday issued a notification for environmental public hearing for the first phase. A mega public hearing for the project will be held in Bilishivale village of Bangalore East on February 6, 2014. Till then public can file objections or opinion on the environmental impact of the project, if any, to KSPCB or BDA, said a senior official with the KSPCB.
Once Phase 1 is completed, BDA is expected to take up Phase 2 of a total road length of 51 km, thus completing the PRR of total 116 km length to circumnavigate the city. The state cabinet had given its nod for PRR phase 1 in September 2013. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the financing agency for the project.
PRR will come as a major relief in tackling city traffic, as existing inner ring road and outer ring road are burdened too much and vehicle owners are fed up with hefty toll fares along NICE Road.
When asked how the authority will deal with the hurdles of land acquisition, a senior official with the BDA said the government has decided to leave it to farmers in the region to decide on the compensation. Those who lose their land for the project will get a choice to take developed land, Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) or money. Modalities of the compensation will be announced soon, he added.
BDA officials said they are yet to decide on joining the proposed PRR phase 1 with the existing NICE road alignment so that construction of phase 2 can be omitted. “While the authority can save money by joining the Phase 1 with NICE alignment, there are issues on toll difference and maintenance. A related decision is pending with the state cabinet,” said an official.
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