PRR for better intercity connectivity

PRR for better intercity connectivity
The proposed road projects will improve access, reduce travel time and decongest intercity traffic
The Times of India


Work to complete the Outer Ring Road (ORR) stretch linking Mysore Road to Magadi Road is gathering speed. The 62-km ORR diverts intercity traffic, links major industrial units and provides access to newly developed BDA layouts. The six-lane ORR will have a two-lane service road on either side connecting Mysore Road to Magadi Road from chainage 51.88 to 56.70 km.

Initially, the ORR ran a length of 11 km and passed through Papareddipalya, Mallathalli, Ullal, Nagadevanahalli and Kengeri Satellite Town, and joined Mysore Road at Kengeri. "The BDA had run into land acquisition loopholes during the first phase of the construction," said T C Kathyayini, Public Relations Officer, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). "But, with the land owners agreeing to give up the land around these areas, work has resumed on the ORR passing through Nayandahalli, Chandra Layout, Nagarabhavi Circle and Malgal, and with this the distance saved is about 12.40 km." The proposed length of the ORR between Magadi Road and Mysore Road via Malgal and Nayandahalli will be 5.70 km as against the 18.10 km long existing ORR which runs through Nagarabhavi 80 Feet Road via Kengeri from Magadi Road and joins Mysore Road at the ORR junction at Nayandahalli.

The proposed ORR stretch has been split into two phases. The first phase will begin from chainage 51.025 to 51.880 where the stretch will cross the Bangalore-Mysore railway line after clearance by the Railway Department. The second phase will run from chainage 51.880 to 56.700 for construction of the ORR connecting Mysore Road to Magadi Road. The width of the three-lane main carriageways will be 2x11 metres while the two lane service road on either side will be 2x7 metres wide. The design speed proposed is 50 kmph. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 53 lakhs and is scheduled for completion in June 2007.

Peripheral Ring Road project

As part of the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) that BDA in its capacity as the planning authority had prepared for Bangalore Metropolitan Area (BMA), it had also undertaken the construction of the ORR and Intermediate Ring Roads in the city. The Government of Karnataka had given BDA a mandate to prepare a report of the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) covering the survey and freezing of alignment. Considering the city's burgeoning growth aspects as well as the current land earmarked for the PRR, the feasible alignment of the PRR was identified through Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS).

The proposed PRR will run along a length of 114 km and will be located at 14-22 km from the city center and 2.8-11.5 km from the existing ORR. It will have a crossing of 12 major roads, six railway lines and three water supply lines. The alignment chosen will cross conurbation areas at five locations and will avoid forest land in most places except at two locations where a road exists for 0.54 km. The alignment has been chosen a sufficient distance away from the BMIC Corridor (NICE).

The total cost of this mammoth project is estimated at Rs 1,700 crores and is scheduled to take three years for completion.

Chosen alignment

The BDA aims at running the PRR alignment with least disturbance to residential, industrial and commercial areas of the city and at the same time creating maximum functional use for heavy traffic at high speeds. Other aspects of terrain, hydrological conditions, geography, land use and pattern, environmental issues, etc were scrutinised and assessed with care.

The proposed PRR alignment links major highways and district roads, creating a direct corridor passage around the city. "There will be substantial commercial and housing construction activity along the PRR," said Kathyayini. "Most intercity traffic will pass through this corridor instead of the ORR because of the quick and safe possibilities that the PRR will offer." Since the PRR will run through semi urban belt for the major distance, it is proposed to develop the service road only at urban limits and at junctions keeping extra land on either side in the rural stretch for a future service road. Pavements too will have minimum 15 years design life and will have adequate and efficient drainage features.

Land acquisition
The land earmarked for this prestigious project is estimated at 3,682 acres and will run predominantly through cropland (60 percent), and less through agriculture plantation (17 percent) and commercial plantation (16 percent).