BDA to call tenders for Packages 2 and 3 for Bengaluru’s PRR-1 by November

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is all set to call tenders for Packages 2 and 3 of the 73.4 km long Peripheral Ring Road-1, even as work on Package 1 of this project has already begun. 

N.A. Haris, Chairman, BDA, speaking at ‘#THTalksBengaluru’ — The Hindu’s reader interactive programme — on Thursday, said the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), now renamed the Bengaluru Business Corridor, had been a long-pending project since 2006 and was revived due to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s initiative.

“This is a key project to decongest Bengaluru, as it will take away all the ‘through’ traffic. It is like a necklace around the neck of Bengaluru. It is a 125 km road around the city. We have started work on PRR-1, and we will also do PRR-2,” he asserted.

“Work on Package 1 of PRR-1 has already begun, and we have approved the tender documents for Package 2 and Package 3 of PRR-1 at the BDA Board recently. We will soon call tenders for these packages,” he said. 

Package 1 (Tumakuru Road to Ballari Road): Work has already begun

L.K. Atheeq, Chairman of Bengaluru Business Corridor Pvt. Ltd., a Special Purpose Vehicle under the BDA spearheading the project, said they were aiming to call tenders for Package 2 and Package 3 by November. “Work orders have been issued for Package 1 two months ago. We have cleared all lands required for a 7 km stretch of the road and the work is on,” he said. 

Data show that, of the 393 acres required for Package 2, the BDA has taken possession of 275 acres of land, achieving 70% of the target. However, land acquisition for Package 3 has been slow, as the farmers on the stretch are still resisting the acquisition. Of the 357 acres required for the stretch, only 100 acres have been taken possession of to date, achieving 28% progress. 

While tenders may be called now, work orders would be issued to the contractors only after 80% of the land required for the package is taken into possession. 

‘Best package for farmers’

Mr. Haris argued that with the five-option compensation package — cash, developed commercial land, developed residential plots, Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) — the BDA was offering farmers what was “one of the best in the country” and appealed to farmers to choose wisely and give up their land.

“Only a few people involved in property transactions and farmer leaders are resisting the project. Farmers are coming forward and taking compensation almost every day. It is a transparent process. We have raised a loan of ₹27,000 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited to fund the project. We have spent only a small portion of it,” he said.