Cabinet okays PPP model

Cabinet okays PPP model
Bangalore, DHNS:
The State Cabinet on Thursday decided in favour of a Public-Private Partnership model for the 110-km four-lane Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), overruling a decision of the State Executive Committee during the Presidents rule which had preferred National Highways to execute the project.


Now, the project will be undertaken by BDA in a PPP model at a cost of over Rs 3,000 crore. It will be a toll road.
According to sources, if the State government had tied up with the National Highways, it would have lost control over the road. “Though the PRR is meant to cater to the City requirements, the NH wanted to convert it into a bypass road. With five new layouts being formed on the edge of the PRR, it will serve the city’s long term traffic needs,” sources added.

There was a clash of interest between the BDA and the NH with regard to several specifications of the PRR. While BDA wanted the road width to be 100 mts,the NH felt 60 mts was sufficient.

Also, the BDA has proposed that the PRR should have a dedicated bus lane, two service lanes and a 12-metre median to facilitate future expansion. These specifications have been approved by the State Cabinet.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that PRR will circumnavigate the city linking the major highways i.e the Tumkur Road, Mysore Road, Old Madras Road and Hosur Road,

The project involves a land acquisition of about 2,050 acres, thereby creating a direct corridor passage around the city.

Development of 65 km will be taken up in the first phase, which is expected to be completed within 30 months.Also, the land acquisition process for the first phase has been completed, she added.