Bangalore Development Authority’s flyover proposal in Jarakabande forest gets nod

The Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) proposal to construct a flyover within the Jarakabande Reserve Forest — aimed at reducing the forest land required for the long-delayed Bengaluru Business Corridor project — has received approval from an expert committee.

In a revised application submitted to the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the authority stated that the forest land required for the eight-lane Peripheral Ring Road project has been reduced from 19.10 acres to 7.05 acres.

The previous application, considered by the committee in 2022, had stated that 19.10 acres of the Jarakabande Kaval Reserve Forest would be needed for the project.

"However, following discussions with the Forest Department, and in an effort to minimise forest land diversion, it was decided to propose an elevated corridor across Jarakabandekaval Reserve Forest in Yelahanka Hobli, Bengaluru North Taluk, involving diversion of 2.8551 hectares (7.05 acres),” the committee observed while recommending the project, subject to previously specified conditions.