BDA hands over ring road project to NHAI

BDA hands over ring road project to NHAI
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: One by one, the Karnataka government seems to be washing its hands of mega infrastructure projects planned for the city. First, it was a decision to hand over the proposed expressway project to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Now, the ambitious 116-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) planned by BDA is all set to be taken over by NHAI.
A BDA board meeting on Tuesday decided to hand over the project, which has been on paper for the past four years. The PRR was planned to provide another circuit of roads as the Outer Ring Road has now become part of Bangalore.
To be built 8 km from the existing ring road, the Rs 3,600-crore PRR needed 3,500 acres of land for phase I and II. The BDA issued final notification for land acquisition for Phase I running up to 65 km. “The NHAI had approached the state government to take over the PRR project. The government had, in turn, written to us to examine the proposal. At today’s meeting, we discussed the issue and decided to give it the project,’’ BDA commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda told The Times of India.
But there’ll be a rider. NHAI has to bear the cost of land acquisition for the project — compensate the land losers.
PRR FACTS
PRR will circumnavigate city linking major highways — Tumkur-Mysore-Old Madras-Hosur-Bellary roads measuring 116 km; toll road to be located 14 to 22 km from city centre
Eight-lane corridor to have grade separators
Villages touching the road — Gangondanahalli, Varthur, Anjanapura, Uttharalli, Kodigehalli, Agara, Gottigere, Bellandur, Lingarajpura, Avalahalli ‘Magic’ work begins today
Bangalore: From Wednesday, the BBMP will start clearing the decks to fix a readymade ‘magic box’ underpass at BDA Junction. In the next 20 days, traffic at this chaotic junction is expected to flow smoothly as it will become signal-free.
After two months of ground work on building the pre-cast boxes, the civic authorities will place the boxes at five intersections between Windsor Manor and Hebbal flyover.
In the first leg, shifting the utility lines and electric poles will take place followed by earth excavation for setting the boxes. One lane on each side of the road will be barricaded and traffic movement will be partially affected till work is completed.
“Though it is a relatively simpler plan, two long up and down ramps will be laid on Hebbal Main Road. Two box underpasses using arch-shaped pre-cast boxes will allow vehicles from Bangalore Palace to move towards Malleswaram, and vehicles coming from Cauvery junction can take a right turn towards Malleswaram. As the ramps will need embankments, it is estimated that this project will take more time, so we are taking up this junction first,’’ BBMP officials explained.
The boxes have been prepared at the casting yard. Once work at the BDA junction and Cauvery junction is over, it’ll be carried out simultaneously at Windsor Manor Bridge, CBI junction, Sanjaynagar junction. The entire work is expected to be over by March.
BBMP is working on laying the service roads from CBI Office to Hebbal flyover so that traffic can be divided. Only near Balabrooie, the road has to be completely excavated with water lines running densely. Here, traffic will be diverted.
HIGHLIGHTS
Cost — Between Rs 1 cr and Rs 2.5 cr Time — Between 1 day and 20 days Effective and can be salvaged Minimal traffic disruption