Implications of wide roads and increased FAR

Implications of wide roads and increased FAR
There are plans to widen roads across the city to ease congestion in core areas. Master Plan 2015 has made provisions for increased FAR, depending on the road width


The Master Plan 2015 that's been recently released by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) aims to provide optimal conditions for the growth of a burgeoning metropolis like Bangalore. Infrastructure, housing for all social categories, roads, flyovers and other public facilities are part of the plan.
In order to cater to the rising demand for a better road network, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to take up road widening work on 83 roads in the city. Work has already begun on Seshadri Road, Palace Road, Race Course Road and Kasturba Road. The BBMP has entrusted the road widening task to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) and has released Rs 17 crores towards it. The other roads that will be taken up for widening shortly are Bellary Road, Hosur Road, Hosur Laskar Road, and Nrupatunga Road. In all, 83 roads of 144 km stretch have been identified for widening in the city's core areas to ease traffic congestion.
It's interesting to watch the developments in these sectors, especially following the recent BDA proposal on increasing FAR, depending on road width. While road widening works have been taken up to ease congestion, the very fact that these areas are now open to more commercialisation with increased FAR raises interesting questions. There's a gap between urban growth and the capacity of the public authorities to respond to it in terms of infrastructure, housing, public facilities, transport and control over the urbanisation process. Metro Rail and wider roads are attempts to address this. The population of Bangalore is likely to reach one crore by the year 2020 and the needs of Bangalore will only increase. The economic dynamics of the city needs to be maintained too and better management systems are therefore the need of the hour to meet the city's growing requirements.
The Plan, while, recognising the importance of mixed land use, also acknowledges market forces through proper FAR management and encourages redevelopment and urban renewal. While anticipating the growing demands of a city like Bangalore, the Master Plan, with its far reaching provisions in relaxing zonal regulations has major implications for commercial growth. Also, permission will no longer be needed for change of land use. For a city that has transformed from a sleepy garden city to an IT hub, things are looking up. If commercial activity has been permitted under the Plan in a particular area, people can now get a licence from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to open commercial enterprises.
In this scenario, it will be interesting to watch out for developments and commercial activity on all major arterial roads in the city like Bellary Road, Old Madras Road, Hosur Road, Mysore Road and Tumkur Road, Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta Road, Palace Rand and Airport Road. – P B V

Implications of wide roads and increased FAR
There are plans to widen roads across the city to ease congestion in core areas. Master Plan 2015 has made provisions for increased FAR, depending on the road width


The Master Plan 2015 that's been recently released by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) aims to provide optimal conditions for the growth of a burgeoning metropolis like Bangalore. Infrastructure, housing for all social categories, roads, flyovers and other public facilities are part of the plan.
In order to cater to the rising demand for a better road network, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to take up road widening work on 83 roads in the city. Work has already begun on Seshadri Road, Palace Road, Race Course Road and Kasturba Road. The BBMP has entrusted the road widening task to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) and has released Rs 17 crores towards it. The other roads that will be taken up for widening shortly are Bellary Road, Hosur Road, Hosur Laskar Road, and Nrupatunga Road. In all, 83 roads of 144 km stretch have been identified for widening in the city's core areas to ease traffic congestion.
It's interesting to watch the developments in these sectors, especially following the recent BDA proposal on increasing FAR, depending on road width. While road widening works have been taken up to ease congestion, the very fact that these areas are now open to more commercialisation with increased FAR raises interesting questions. There's a gap between urban growth and the capacity of the public authorities to respond to it in terms of infrastructure, housing, public facilities, transport and control over the urbanisation process. Metro Rail and wider roads are attempts to address this. The population of Bangalore is likely to reach one crore by the year 2020 and the needs of Bangalore will only increase. The economic dynamics of the city needs to be maintained too and better management systems are therefore the need of the hour to meet the city's growing requirements.
The Plan, while, recognising the importance of mixed land use, also acknowledges market forces through proper FAR management and encourages redevelopment and urban renewal. While anticipating the growing demands of a city like Bangalore, the Master Plan, with its far reaching provisions in relaxing zonal regulations has major implications for commercial growth. Also, permission will no longer be needed for change of land use. For a city that has transformed from a sleepy garden city to an IT hub, things are looking up. If commercial activity has been permitted under the Plan in a particular area, people can now get a licence from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to open commercial enterprises.
In this scenario, it will be interesting to watch out for developments and commercial activity on all major arterial roads in the city like Bellary Road, Old Madras Road, Hosur Road, Mysore Road and Tumkur Road, Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta Road, Palace Rand and Airport Road. – P B V