Highway through Bannerghatta park to get final OK after forest dept nod

Bengaluru: The proposal to build a 6.68-km elevated highway through the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) is likely to receive final approval after the Forest Department clears the wildlife mitigation plan submitted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The six-lane highway, part of Phase 2 of the Satellite Township Ring Road (STRR) connecting Ramanagara and Peddamadhagondapalli Road, requires 27.18 acres of Thattekere forest in the BNP. Designed to rest on a single pier, the highway aims to divert interstate traffic away from Bengaluru and ease congestion.

BNP is home to elephants, leopards, tigers, and other wildlife. The elevated stretch, at a height of 8 metres, will pass through 4 km of the core area and the rest through the buffer zone on the existing road alignment.

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had cleared the project on the condition that the ground-level road would be abandoned. The in-principle (Stage I) clearance issued in March came with 28 conditions, in addition to 13 set by the NBWL’s standing committee.

"We have complied with the conditions and submitted all documents, including the wildlife mitigation plan. We are waiting for the demand notice to pay the statutory charges, after which final clearance will follow," said Vilas Brahmankar, NHAI Regional Officer. 

A forest official confirmed that the plan was under review.

"The wildlife mitigation plan has been received recently. Once it is approved by the Chief Wildlife Warden, work can begin, technically. However, given the BNP’s sensitivity, precautions are being taken to minimise wildlife disturbance," the official said.

Can affect local villagers

Sources noted that while the elevated highway may reduce wildlife intrusion in future, it could affect local villagers who currently use the tolled road.

"The highway was approved on the condition that the existing road will be closed. This will impact villagers who rely on it, as they will now be forced to use a tolled road," a source said.