The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is nearing to completion of a critical phase of its much-awaited Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project.
After issuing the first notification to acquire about 750 acres of land in April 2020, the BDA is now preparing to complete the acquisition process by issuing the final notification.
Designed to surround the suburbs of the city, the PRR aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve regional connectivity. The line crosses 10 major junctions and over 100 minor junctions with 16 runways placed at key locations such as Hesarghatta Road, Old Madras Road, Whitefield Road, Channasandra Road, and Hosur Road.
Amid mounting pressure to accelerate the PRR project, the BDA was forced to issue a notice to ensure transparency and seek public input. Recently, the department has canceled the sale of 78 hectares of land in major areas like Yelahanka, KR Puram, Bidarahalli, Varthur, Sarjapur, Dasanapura, Yeshwantpur, and Hesaraghatta Hoblis. This latest announcement affects 367 landowners who may lose their land as a result of the scheme.
The 78 hectares of land is part of the 750 hectares originally announced to be acquired by 2020.
The demand for more land stems from the last notification issued by the BDA in June 2007 for the acquisition of 1,810 hectares of land. According to officials, this 750-hectare land is very important to address the missing link in the PRR.
However, even if the development zone supports the land acquisition process, the issue of compensation remains. The authorities had initially sought compensation under the BDA Act, but the affected landowners had demanded compensation under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, three times the amount of market.
Initially Rs 14,000 crore, including Rs 8,000 crore for land acquisition and Rs 6,000 crore for development, the cost of the project was revised to Rs 27,000 crore, with an estimated Rs 21,000 crore for the purchase of land by the provisions of the Land Purchase Act 2.
According to a Deccan Herald report, the BDA has presented three compensation structures and the matter has been forwarded to the state government for consideration. The final decision will be made by the cabinet in the coming weeks.