Thu Jan 02 15:25:51 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru to Build New Road Parallel to Outer Ring Road, Sparking Controversy
**Bengaluru, January 2, 2025** – The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) plans to construct a 7.22-km road in the stormwater drain (SWD) buffer zone between Hebbal and Kalkere lakes, at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore. The road, running parallel to the congested Outer Ring Road (ORR), aims to alleviate traffic.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a proponent of utilizing SWD buffer zones for road expansion, has championed the project. However, the initiative has faced significant backlash from environmental activists.
The BBMP has issued a public notice to acquire 71.5 acres of land, encompassing 149 properties, including a military dairy farm. While most properties are vacant, the planned use of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) as compensation – a method criticized in previous projects – has raised concerns.
The road’s width will vary from 17 to 24 meters due to the uneven width of the existing drain and existing encroachments. Urban transport activist Sanjeev V. Dyamannavar highlighted potential bottlenecks arising from this inconsistency and the lack of a publicly available detailed project report (DPR). He also questioned how the road’s intersections with major thoroughfares like Ballari Road, Thanisandra Main Road, Hennur Main Road, and Manyata Tech Park will be managed. The project’s impact on existing traffic flow and potential environmental consequences remain subjects of ongoing debate.
First Piper 