A special purpose vehicle would be established for implementing the mega project, which would be completed in three years

The Karnataka Cabinet on Tuesday approved the modified Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) in Bengaluru, with compensation amount for land losers. The estimated cost of the project is ₹11,950 crore, including land acquisition.

The PRR, which connects half the city’s western-eastern-southern suburbs, is a 65-km road project with a width of 100 metres. When completed, it will connect Tumakuru Road and Hosur Road through Ballari Road and Old Madras Road.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwathnarayan said the Cabinet approved ₹8,100 for land acquisition and ₹3,850 crore for developing the road.

Earlier in January 2019, the previous coalition government had earmarked ₹4,500 crore for land acquisition.

Under the revised terms, the government would pay compensation to owners of less than two acres as per the 2013 Land Acquisition Act. For those who are losing more than two acres, compensation would be given for 50% of the land and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) would be offered for the rest of the land. Compensation for 50% of the land would be given as per the 2013 Act. There is no space for commercial activities in the PRR, the Deputy CM said.

While the government would incur the expenditure for acquisition of 1,810 acres, funds would be borrowed from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for implementing the project. Toll charges would be collected from road users, he said.

The PRR would have cycle paths and service roads. A special purpose vehicle would be established for implementing the mega project, which would be completed in three years. The project has obtained all clearances, including environment.

In another decision, the Cabinet renamed the earlier Mukhya Mantri Nagorathana project as the Mukhya Mantri Nava Nagorathana project, and approved an action plan of ₹8,343 crore for 2019-20, the Deputy CM said.

More white-topping

White-topping road projects, which had received work orders, would be continued. New tenders and work orders would be issued for more roads. Funds under the Mukhya Mantri Nava Nagorathana project would be used for easing traffic congestion in the city, which has road length of 13,000 km.

Roerich estate to be fenced

The Cabinet has decided fence the Roerich and Devika Rani Roerich Estate on the outskirts of Bengaluru after evicting all illegal occupants. The government has proposed to set up a film city in the premises.

Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has criticised the proposal.

“Mr. Yediyurappa’s proposal to develop the estate into a film city is nothing but politics of vendetta. My government had decided to build a film city in Ramanagara. One of the aims of this project was to generate employment for youths of Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural districts. By shifting the project, Yediyurappa is practising politics of vengeance,” he tweeted. He also added that Roerich Estate is a hotspot of biodiversity and, hence, not suitable for a film city.