BDA to begin work on PRR by Feb-end

With the Union Ministry of Urban Development giving its approval to the Rs 5,800-crore peripheral ring road (PRR) project, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) hopes to commence work on the much-delayed infrastructure project in a month’s time.

BDA Commissioner T Sham Bhat on Wednesday said they aim to start work by February-end. “The project is before Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for approval of funding from Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Once approved, tenders will be floated. Also, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants the construction work to start by March,” he said. Once the work gets underway, it will take 36-40 months for completion. Final notification for land acquisition has been issued and acquisition going on, he added. 

According to BDA officials, a team from JICA is likely to visit the proposed project sites before the works start. The State Cabinet has approved the project and agreed to link part-1 of PRR to existing the NICE corridor. The NICE corridor which links Tumkur Road to Hosur Road via Magadi Road, Mysore Road and Kanakapura Road; was part-2 of PRR, according to BDA's original plan. The 65-kilometre PRR part-1, will connect Tumkur Road with Hosur Road via Doddaballapur Road, Bellary Road, Old Madras Road and Sarjapur Road. The BDA needs 1,910 acres of land for construction.

Bhat pointed out that farmers were agitated as they were not happy with the compensation schemes. Now, they should be satisfied as they have three options to chose from. They can either opt for developed land in the ratio of 60:40, or TDR or cash. But, monetory compensation is yet to be finalised.

Land losers agitated

However, PRR-1 Affected Families Welfare Association Secretary P Rajan questioned how the BDA can commence work on the PRR when there are 37 cases pending in the High Court.  In 2010, the court had quashed 1.26 acre of land which BDA had acquired for construction of toll booth, he added. Associationpresident S Shankar said BDA has changed the alignment many times, only to please the influentials.