Proposed Peripheral Ring Road for Mysuru. (Pic for representation purpose)
Credit: Special Arrangement
Mysuru: Even as Mysuru is the second fastest growing city after Bengaluru, in order to ease pressure on roads connecting the city, outer ring road; considering the future growth of city and probable traffic burden, Mysore Urban Development Authority has proposed to come up with a Peripheral Ring Road (PRR). While MUDA has already earmarked Rs 7.75 Crore for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the tender process has begun for the preparation of the DPR, according to MUDA Commissioner A N Raghunandan.
"MUDA has planned to come up with a 105.31km long PRR with 45 meter width, with six lanes (3+3) and two service lanes," Raghunandan said.
MUDA Superintendent Engineer Muralidhar said it is estimated that they may have to acquire approximately 120 acre land and need about Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore for the project. Once the tender process is completed, preparation of the DPR may take four months. Once the DPR is approved by the government and funds are sanctioned, it might take three years for the completion of the project. There is no forest area in the land proposed for the project, he said.
Raghunandan explained that, Mysuru city has 8 lakh registered vehicles. It also receives about 40 lakh tourists per year. Several vehicles from other districts and states across the city. It is even growing as a hub for investment in the Industrial sector. There are already four to six Industrial areas in the outskirts of the city, semiconductor project is coming near Nanjangud. Mysuru Airport is getting expanded and upgraded. MUDA master plan 2031, includes Mysuru-Chennai bullet train project and Mysuru-Mangaluru road upgradation. Hence considering the future traffic burden for the next twenty years, this PRR is proposed, he said.
Mysuru Travels Association President, B S Prashanth said, "PRR will be a huge boost to the connectivity of Mysuru. It helps connect more places in shorter span of time. It helps people from neighbouring towns and cities come to Mysuru with ease. If the connectivity is enhanced, city's economy will also be boosted. This will even skyrocket the development around the proposed stretch. Hence peripheral ring road is a much needed project which has to be implemented in a quicker pace."
Major Gen (Rtd) Sudhir G Vombatkere felt, "A Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) may help re-route 'through' road traffic which does not need to or want to enter Mysuru, and to that extent, may relieve traffic congestion within Mysuru. But PRR cannot help traffic congestion due to Mysuru's domestic traffic, which is growing at over 400 vehicles being registered per day, coming on the roads, and occupying road space. There is no substitute for improving public transport systems. Simultaneously they should dis-incentivise personal transport on Singapore model by imposing heavy road tax, higher parking charges, charging fee on single occupancy personal vehicles, limiting number of new vehicles registered. A formal study on this needs to be done as suggested by MGP (Mysore Grahakara Parishat) years ago. National Transport Policy stresses easy, convenient, cheap movement of people, not of vehicles, giving precedence to public transport over personal transport."
He added, "The present ORR serves to divert 'through' traffic effectively, and justification for PRR (by acquisition of agricultural lands) is difficult to understand."
"Government should conduct an economic feasibility study for PRR, which should be made public before financial commitment or work on PRR begins," Vombatkere said.
MLA of Chamundeshwari constituency, G T Devegowda said, "There is a proposal to upgrade Mysore City Corporation to Bruhat Mysuru Maha Nagara Palike. It is proposed to include 187.01 sq km areas of Mysuru taluk coming under one Municipality, four Pattana Panchayats and four Gram Panchayats within Outer Ring road to existing MCC areas spread over 86.31 sq km in order to develop these areas and provide all basic infrastructure facilities like drinking water, UGD. Considering the pace of growth of Mysuru, development of industrial areas, improvement of railway and Bengaluru Mysuru connectivity, in order ease pressure on connecting roads like H D Kote road, Nanjangud road, Hunsur road, T Narasipura road, Bannur road, this PRR is proposed."
Vombatkere said, "Urban expansion and rural shrinkage is the bane of our development model. Comprehensive feasibility study, should be done on Bruhat Mysuru proposal. The PRR project only gives the Government excuse and opportunity to indulge in road-widening (with consequent tree loss and/or property loss, and more paved surface causing flood even with slight rain), and which in turn offers corruption opportunities for many people connected with these works."