Bengaluru Development Authority To Rename Peripheral Ring Road As Bengaluru Business Corridor

The ambitious 74-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, envisioned by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to alleviate traffic congestion in the city's outskirts, will now be known as the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC), announced Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar on 17 January.

Addressing reporters, Shivakumar stated, "It has been decided to rename the proposed Peripheral Ring Road as Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC). We will be inviting a global tender for the Bengaluru Business Corridor within a week. Those who are losing land for the corridor will be compensated as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court."

The decision to rename the project aligns with a broader vision to position the corridor as a hub for business activities, potentially transforming it into a key economic artery for the city. The Bengaluru Business Corridor is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity and fostering economic development in the region.

Shivakumar emphasised the government's commitment to compensating landowners affected by the project in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines. He also reassured that the government has decided against de-notifying any land in any of the ongoing projects, including the Bengaluru Business Corridor, despite external pressures.

Addressing concerns about compensation for farmers impacted by the corridor, Shivakumar stated, "We have taken farmers into confidence. We called them for a discussion, and we will discuss the issue in the cabinet meeting."

Additionally, Shivakumar highlighted an infrastructural improvement to ease traffic congestion in the city. A new loop is being added to the Hebbal flyover, a strategic move expected to contribute to smoother traffic flow.

The PRR project, initially proposed in 2007, aims to create an eight-lane access-controlled expressway connecting Tumkur Road and Hosur Road via various key routes. Implemented under the Public-Private Partnership model on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) basis, the project has faced delays and challenges. 

The Bengaluru Business Corridor project is scheduled for completion by December 2027, with an initial cost escalation from Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 21,091 crore. Despite two tender attempts in 2022, no bidders participated, emphasising the need for renewed efforts to ensure the successful implementation of this critical infrastructure project.