Latest news with #PeripheralRingRoad
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar seeks ₹1.5 lakh crore Central aid for upgrading Bengaluru infrastructure
Amid the much-awaited inauguration of Namma Metro's Yellow Line by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Bengaluru Development Minister, has made a pitch for massive Central assistance to overhaul the city's infrastructure. In a formal letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Shivakumar requested funding to the tune of ₹1.5 lakh crore for a series of large-scale, high-priority projects. Emphasising Bengaluru's role as India's technology capital and the nation's second-largest tax contributor, he pointed out to the urgent need to address mounting urban pressures, such as severe traffic congestion, depleting water resources, and inadequate waste management systems. A major component of the proposal is the creation of five semi-high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, modelled on the Delhi–Meerut 'Namo Bharat' network. The suggested routes include Bengaluru–Bidadi–Mysuru, Bengaluru–Harohalli–Kanakapura, Bengaluru–Nelamangala–Tumakuru, Bengaluru–Airport–Chickballapur, and Bengaluru–Hoskote–Kolar. Other big-ticket initiatives outlined in the letter include the construction of two urban tunnels and elevated corridors along former national highways at a cost of ₹41,780 crore, development of arterial road corridors at ₹15,000 crore, the long-pending Peripheral Ring Road project at ₹27,000 crore, and four integrated solid waste management plants at ₹3,200 crore. The State also plans to expand the Namma Metro network by an additional 128 km under Phases 3 and 3A, introducing five new corridors. Further, it has proposed the creation of more than 40 km of double-decker elevated roads similar to the Silk Board–Ragigudda stretch on routes, such as J.P. Nagar–Hebbal and Hosahalli–Kadabagere, at a cost of ₹8,916 crore. Additional demands include building 300 km of roads along stormwater drains at a cost of ₹3,000 crore and implementing the sixth stage of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme at ₹6,939 crore. Mr. Shivakumar appealed to the Centre to extend funding on par with the support provided to Delhi, arguing that such assistance is crucial to ensuring sustainable growth, enhancing Bengaluru's liveability, and maintaining its global competitiveness. 'We request the Union government to extend funding support to Bengaluru on par with Delhi, enabling the city to emerge as a global city,' he stated in the letter.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru Peripheral Ring Road landowners demand justice after 20-year wait. ‘No award, no rehabilitation'
Landowners affected by the proposed Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project in Bengaluru have submitted a legal representation to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), demanding urgent action on what they describe as a two-decade-long violation of their rights. The landowners claim they have faced enormous hardship due to this prolonged limbo. (Representational Image)(PTI Photo) The letter, addressed to the BDA Commissioner, outlines grievances regarding lapsed land acquisition, lack of compensation, mental distress, and an alleged arbitrary reduction in guidance value. The signatories argue that the preliminary acquisition notifications were issued over 20 years ago under the now-lapsed Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Referring to the Supreme Court's judgment in Indore Development Authority vs. Manoharlal (2020), they assert that any acquisition where no Award is passed within five years must be treated as lapsed. (Also Read: '45 acres for sky deck, only 9 for transport hub': Bengaluru MP PC Mohan slams government priorities) Holding on to land without issuing an Award or compensation, they state, is unconstitutional and violates Article 300A of the Indian Constitution which protects the Right to Property. The landowners claim they have faced enormous hardship due to this prolonged limbo. They have been denied the ability to use or develop their land, with no Award, compensation, or rehabilitation provided under either the 1894 Act or the more recent Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act of 2013. "Landowners have suffered mental distress, financial stagnation, and missed economic opportunities," the letter notes, while also expressing concern over the lack of representation in the Price Fixation Committee. They argue that this exclusion undermines transparency and fairness in the valuation process. The representation also strongly objects to what they call an "arbitrary and discriminatory" reduction in guidance value for PRR-marked properties, alleging it is a deliberate move to lower compensation amounts. They argue that such actions violate principles of natural justice and deflate property value only for affected landowners, while surrounding areas continue to appreciate. What are their demands? The letter lays out specific demands if the BDA and the Karnataka government intend to continue with the PRR or associated projects such as the Bengaluru Business Corridor. These include: Issuing a fresh acquisition notification under the LARR Act, 2013 with full procedural compliance. Providing compensation for economic and emotional harm caused by the delay. Including affected landowners as equity stakeholders in upcoming commercial or township projects, drawing on models used in Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. Offering at least one government job per displaced family as part of a humane rehabilitation policy. The landowners warn that continued inaction will compel them to seek remedies through the Karnataka High Court and democratic channels. "The present state of indefinite acquisition without Award, suppressed land value, and lack of stakeholder engagement is legally untenable and ethically indefensible," the letter concludes. What is the PRR project? The Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, launched by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), aims to improve connectivity across the outer stretches of Bengaluru. In April 2007, the BDA issued a preliminary notification to acquire 1,810 acres of land across 67 villages for Phase I of the project. Spanning 74 kilometers, the PRR Phase I is designed to link several key highways and state roads, including Tumakuru Road (NH-4), Hesaraghatta Road (SH-39), Doddaballapura Road (SH-9), Ballari Road (NH-7), Hennur–Bagalur Road (SH-104), Old Madras Road (NH-4), Hoskote–Anekal Road (SH-35), Sarjapur Road, and Hosur Road (NH-7). The project was envisioned as a major decongestion initiative for the city's core traffic zones. (Also Read: Bengaluru landowners may face tax hike due to PRR project: Report)
Hans India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Kumaraswamy and Gadkari Discuss Karnataka's infrastructure future
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's and H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, outlined critical infrastructure projects for Karnataka in a meeting held at New Delhi, aiming to enhance connectivity and alleviate Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion. The discussion, detailed in a post on social media platform X by Kumaraswamy, focused on the Shiradi Ghat Road Project, the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), and a proposed ultra-modern underground road network, marking a pivotal moment for the state's urban and rural development. The Shiradi Ghat Road Project, a vital link on National Highway 75 connecting Bengaluru to the coastal regions, was a primary concern. Currently, 80% of the Addahole to Maranahalli stretch is complete, but challenges remain due to the region's ecological sensitivity and landslide-prone areas. The 74 km Peripheral Ring Road, rebranded as the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC), aims to form an 8-lane expressway around Bengaluru, connecting key routes like Tumakuru and Hosur roads.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
HDK bats for tunnel roads in Bengaluru, seeks central assistance for the project
Tunnels roads, a project championed by Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D. K. Shivakumar and which has been facing stiff opposition from several quarters, has received unexpected support. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, in a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, termed the project the 'backbone of Bengaluru's future transport infrastructure, addressing current bottlenecks, improving connectivity, and enabling long-term sustainable growth', and sought Union government assistance for the same. The Karnataka Cabinet recently approved ₹17,780 crore for the project from Hebbal to Silk Board. Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited, a SPV floated to implement key big-ticket infrastructure projects, including tunnel roads, is all set to call global tenders for the project. Mr. Kumaraswamy also urged the Centre to support the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project to decongest Bengaluru's core areas.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
B-SMILE all set to call tenders for North-South twin tunnels
Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), the recently formed special purpose vehicle, is all set to call global tenders for the North-South twin tunnel corridor between Hebbal and Silk Board. This follows the approval for a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model with 40% Viability Gap Funding (VGF) from the government to be adopted to build tunnel roads in the city on June 5. If everything goes according to plan, the twin tunnel roads will be open to the public by 2029-30 and the toll on these roads is estimated to cost ₹19/km and will be tolled by the companies that invest and build these roads for the next 30 years. This corridor will be 16.74 km long and is expected to cost ₹17,780 crore. The VGF for this corridor will be ₹9,303 crore. The State Cabinet has already agreed to stand as a guarantor for a loan of ₹19,000 crore towards VGF for North-South and East-West tunnel roads. B-SMILE is in talks with lending agencies including Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), a Government of India undertaking, which is also funding the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR). Work to be split into two packages With the past experience of PRR estimated to cost ₹27,000 crore not attracting any bidders in multiple global tenders, B-SMILE has decided to split the North-South twin tunnel corridor into two packages of roughly around 8.4 km each - North package from Hebbal to Race Course Road and South package from Race Course Road to Silk Board. Two companies will bid and start building these tunnels at two ends simultaneously, which will also ensure the tunnels are ready faster. The tender, likely to be called soon after the government's approval, will fix a 50 month (four years two months) deadline for the completion of the project, said B.S. Prahlad, Technical Director, B-SMILE. Toll estimated at ₹19/km A commuter will pay toll in two stages and toll collection will be completely automated through number plate recognition software, said Mr. Prahlad. 'As per current estimates, the toll will be around ₹19 per km. Since this will be collected after five years, this is not high, and factoring in inflation, it will be comparable to other tolls elsewhere at that date,' he argued. Twin Tunnels The project involves building two unconnected tunnels for each direction of traffic next to each other, each three lanes wide. This essentially means the total length of earth to be tunnelled for the North-South corridor is 33.48 km. Sources said at least eight tunnel boring machines will be deployed simultaneously to speed up work. Each machine is capable of tunnelling 2 km per year, sources said.
