Sat Dec 27 15:35:36 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text:

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is moving forward with the “B-SMILE” project, a road network expansion aimed at easing congestion. The project includes building roads along buffer zones of storm-water drains and lakes, adding 228 km of roads in GBA limits at a cost of ₹199.4 crore, with the potential for an additional 90 km in the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) area.

A key component is the revival of the Wind Tunnel Road expansion, shelved in 2022 due to land issues, intended to decongest HAL Airport Road. The project has already started, focusing on areas with low road density and high congestion, particularly in east Bengaluru.

However, the project has faced criticism due to environmental concerns about reducing buffer zones and potential damage to micro-ecosystems and lake health. Increased land acquisition costs are also anticipated. B-SMILE officials state that realigning the Wind Tunnel Road will reduce distance and increase width, providing a viable alternative route to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and Bellandur, ultimately easing traffic on HAL Airport Road.

Here’s a rewritten news article:

Bengaluru Embarks on Massive Road Expansion Project Amidst Environmental Concerns

Bengaluru, India – December 27, 2025 – The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has commenced the ambitious “B-SMILE” project, a large-scale road network expansion intended to alleviate the city’s ever-growing traffic congestion. The project, costing ₹199.4 crore, includes the construction of 228 kilometers of new roads within GBA limits, with the potential for an additional 90 kilometers in areas under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

A cornerstone of B-SMILE is the revival of the Wind Tunnel Road expansion, a project previously abandoned in 2022. This realignment and widening aims to provide an alternate route to ORR, decongesting the perpetually busy HAL Airport Road.

“This project will be a game changer for ORR and Bellandur commuters,” stated B.S. Prahallad, Technical Director of B-SMILE. “It will also decongest HAL Airport Road.”

However, the project has met with resistance due to its reliance on building roads along buffer zones of storm-water drains and lakes. Environmental experts warn that reducing these vital buffer zones could negatively impact micro-ecosystems and threaten the health of Bengaluru’s lakes. Concerns have also been raised about increased land acquisition costs.

The GBA acknowledges these concerns and states that all efforts are being made to minimize environmental impact and address land acquisition challenges. The project aims to be completed within the next few years, promising to transform Bengaluru’s traffic flow and connectivity, though not without raising questions about environmental sustainability.

Read More