Peripheral Ring Road construction will be done by BDA, if investors don't respond

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Development Authority is making an all-out effort to clear the 'block' in the construction of the much awaited Peripheral Ring Road (PRR). Tenders are being invited for PRR again, and if investors are not interested this time too, BDA is thinking of taking up the construction work of the road.

The Cabinet approved the proposal to invite global tenders for designing, constructing, investing, operating and handing over the 74 km long PRR road on the outskirts of the city under the Public Private Partnership model. In this background tender was called twice. Investors from 6 companies that had participated in the preliminary bid, later showed no interest in submitting the tender. Thus, the authority is preparing to call the tender again for the third time.

If the investor companies do not express interest this time too, it is intended to construct the peripheral ring road by the BDA itself. Alternative sources of income have been sought to meet the required funds for project implementation. Land disputes that have been pending for decades to be settled and the revenue generated from it to be used to build the road.

On November 27, 2006, BDA had submitted a proposal to build a PRR on the outskirts of Silicon City. There were many disputes related to this project. Earlier, the process was initiated to implement the project by getting a loan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It was decided to abandon it and build PRR in full private partnership.

PRR is being constructed from Tumkur road to Hosur road connection. It has been decided to construct a 100 meter wide road to reach Hosur road from Hessaraghatta Road- Doddaballapur Road- Bellary Road- Hennur Road- Old Madras Road- Hoskote Road- Sarjapur Road. The total length of the PRR as per this previous plan was 65 km. However, it has been decided to develop clover leaf type junctions at the junction of Nice Road and PRR. Hence, the length of the road has increased to 74 km.

It has been decided to construct a PRR with a length of about 74 km and eight lanes. A 100m wide road and clover leaf type junctions, bridges, flyovers, railway underbridges, railway flyovers will be constructed under this project. In addition, a 13 meter wide space is being reserved for future metro construction or other infrastructure. Space is also being earmarked for three Service Roads, Green Corridor.

This project is being implemented in private partnership. A private company will invest in both land acquisition and road construction. It is being implemented on Design, Build, Funding, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. A company investing in road construction will be allowed to collect a toll for a period of 50 years.

Out of the 64 layouts constructed by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) so far, around 7,000 acres of land is in litigation related to the land acquisition process. The dispute between the BDA and the landowners has not been settled for about 25-30 years. A BDA official informed that most of the cases are in court.

"BDA and land owners are also losing due to this land dispute. Thus, the land remains unutilized. It has been decided to give compensation in the ratio of 30:70 if the landowners come forward for compromise. The authority will get crores of rupees from the sale of the land settled in this way. If the investors do not come forward for the construction of the peripheral ring road, it is intended to carry out the construction work on behalf of the BDA with the proceeds from the sale of the land. We have submitted a proposal to the government in this regard,'' the official said.