Going in circles to get out of chaos

Going in circles to get out of chaos
Deccan Herald

The proposed ring road will run up to 274 kms and serve as an outer periphery road linking the five satellite townships being planned around the City.

Making a strong case for upgrading the existing road network in the State, the government of Karnataka has sent a proposal to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to lay a Satellite Towns’ Ring Road (STRR) around Bangalore City.

The proposed ring road will run up to 274 kms and serve as an outer periphery road linking the five satellite townships being planned around the City.

The proposal to construct the STRR is based on a concept floated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA). It is now under consideration of the NHAI, said sources.


Bangalore City already has an Inner Ring Road and a Outer Ring Road, while the third Peripheral Ring Road is under construction. The STRR will be the fourth road encircling the City.

The NHAI, meanwhile, has chosen three new projects to decongest the roads leading to Bangalore.

“The projects are now awaiting approval from the Union Finance Ministry and will be based on the private-public partnership model. The selected stretches are — Bangalore to Kolar, Bangalore to Nelamangala and Nelamangala to Hassan,” said NHAI sources.

Meanwhile, the State government has big plans of roping in the Centre and NHAI for sprucing up all major roads. According to officials, some State roads need to be upgraded as National Highways.

Karnataka has a two-km stretch of National Highway for every 100 sq km area, as against the three-km stretch in other states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana and Assam. The State agencies — the Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL) and Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP) are improving several roads with investments up to Rs 2,750 crore being borne by the State government.

“It is a mutually beneficial idea to upgrade these roads to national highways,” asserted a government official.