BBMP allocates Rs 400 crore to make Outer Ring Road 'world-class’

Bengaluru: After drawing flak for the poor upkeep of the Outer Ring Road between KR Puram and Central Silk Board, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) announced a special grant of Rs 400 crore for the 22.7-km stretch, home to Fortune 500 companies.

“The 22.7-km road will be developed as per world-class standards in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka and Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd,”  said Dr Harish Kumar K, Special Commissioner (Finance), in his budget speech.

This is one of the new projects announced in the budget. Following the principle of “Pedestrian first,” the BBMP also pledged to construct 1,000 km of footpaths during the ongoing arterial and sub-arterial road works, as well as in all future road developments.

The budget reiterated support for two ongoing projects: first, the white-topping of 157 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 crore; second, the asphalting of 118 roads at an estimated cost of Rs 694 crore. Additionally, the BBMP allocated Rs 2.5 crore per ward for capital works and Rs 50 lakh per ward for maintenance works, totalling Rs 675 crore across 225 wards.

The civic body also announced the construction of a railway over-bridge at 1st Main Road in the Kengeri suburb and an under-bridge near Ramohalli Gate, allocating Rs 20 crore for these projects. Despite the presence of over two dozen manned railway crossings, there has been no focused effort to eliminate them by constructing railway bridges.

Highlights - Five roads to be widened using TDR
n From RT Nagar Police Station to Dr BR Ambedkar College 
n Hennur Main Road (Lingarajapuram Flyover) 
n Shyampur Main Road (Pulakeshinagar) 
n Kenchenahalli Main Road (Yeshwantpur)