‘We plan to expand the definition of Bangalore…’

‘We plan to expand the definition of Bangalore…’
The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) has major plans to improve the quality of life for citizens in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area (BMR) and also to cater to the growing requirements of Bangalore City. Sudhir Krishna, Commissioner, shares some plans in a chat with Times Property


What's the BMRDA's vision for Bangalore?
We plan to expand the definition of Bangalore. Today, the land under Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is 700 sq km and we envision expanding it to 8,022 sq km, comprising Bangalore urban and rural districts. This vision is sought to be achieved by a three-pronged strategy that includes development of a modern road network, development of integrated townships and identifying pockets of development for effective land usage and planned development.
How do you propose to have planned development in the BMR regions?
We have prepared an Interim Master Plan (IMP) for local planning areas of Anekal, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Nelamangala, Magadi and Ramanagara-Chennapattana area planning zones (APZs). These six planning areas put together cover almost 4,000 sq km. The May 2007 Interim Plan has five local planning areas (LPAs) under consideration, out of which there are about 30 identified pockets of development for which detailed land use has been prescribed. This includes 30,000 acres of land for industry, an equal area for residential development and remaining for parks, open spaces and roads.
Care has been taken to provide green buffer between industrial and residential zones. Survey numbers have been identified for land care and IMP is available for visitors free of cost in BMRDA offices and various planning offices, and can be purchased from the respective planning authority offices at reasonable prices. Suggestions have been called for improvement. This IMP will pave the way for planned growth and development of planning areas.
Apart from this, the BMRDA has mooted five integrated townships. In Bidadi, it is in the advanced stage of settlement of bids. July 9th is the last date for settlement of bids. In Bidadi alone, 9,000 odd acres or five million sq ft of area is available for planned development.
What are the plans for developing a modern road network?
The BMR will have a total of 1,000 km of roads which will generally be designed with Right of Way (ROW) of 90 to 100 metres width and a design speed of well above 100 km per hour. The development of modern road network has two purposes. A major objective is to segregate highway traffic from local traffic. Another objective is to provide connectivity to various major and medium habitation towns in the BMR region, to Bangalore, to each other and to the upcoming International Airport.
The road network includes the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) by the BDA, the Intermediate Ring Road (IRR) and the Satellite Town Ring Roads (STRRs) of the BMRDA. This also includes the radial roads that radiate from the Outer Ring Road to Bangalore to interconnect the Peripheral Ring Road, the IRR and the STRRs. This road network includes town ring roads within the radius of 4 to 5 km for the mofussil towns of Anekal, Hoskote, Nelamanagala, Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Ramanagara, Kanakapura and Magadi. These roads will have adequate safety measures and service roads to segregate the low-speed traffic from high speed ones.
Another major development is the Airport Expressway - from Challakere on Outer Ring Road to the International Airport - an access-controlled corridor connecting the PRR of BDA. Many more roads of lesser dimensions measuring about 1,000 km are being developed at various stretches in the BMR. Apart from this, various STRRs have also been approved by the Government.