Karnataka Budget 2019: Peripheral Ring Road project to get Rs 1,000 crore

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will have to gear up to start with the construction of Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, as it was announced in the state budget that the project will take off this year without any delay.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced in the budget on Friday that the government has proposed to construct the PRR at an estimated cost of Rs 17,200 crore, including its maintenance and the project is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city. For 2019-20, the budget allocated Rs 1,000 crore.

A senior BDA officer said, “We received the news that the government will release Rs 1,000 crore immediately for the PRR project. We will ensure that once the fund is released, we will start with the work immediately. We have also instructed the officials to complete the remaining formalities of submitting the survey report and getting approvals before March.”

Mr Anshuman Sen, a road traffic expert, said, “It is just an assumption that the PRR will decongest the city. But will never until there is a cap on registration of vehicles. Another point is that the total project costs Rs 17,200 crore and they are releasing only Rs 1,000 crore. We really do not know what part of the work will be carried out.”

Rs 40 cr for pipeline to KIADB
Rs 40 crore has been granted for the work of laying a pipeline for utilising 40 MLD of water being carried to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board under KC Valley project.

The government has also proposed reconstruction of large storm water drains within three years. In areas where overutilisation of water has led to a dip in the groundwater levels, check dams, barrages, bandars and recharge shafts will be constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore through the Directorate of Ground Water. The government has proposed to take up the tank filling projects at a cost of Rs 1,680 crore.