Bangalore Business Corridor Revamped: Commercial Plots Along PRR-1 to Feature Malls, IT Parks, and Petrol Pump

The Karnataka government has unveiled a revised plan for the ambitious Peripheral Ring Road (PRR-1), also known as the Bangalore Business Corridor, with a new design and an innovative model to fund the project.

The updated plan reduces the road width from the previously proposed 100 meters to 65 meters, allowing space for metro rail integration and commercial developments along the corridor.

According to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the 73-kilometer corridor will feature an 8-lane main road, 9-meter-wide service roads on both sides, pedestrian footpaths, and 5 meters reserved for a future metro or elevated rail system. The remaining 35 meters of the corridor will be used for commercial purposes, including malls, restaurants, petrol pumps, and IT parks. These commercial sites will be auctioned, with the revenue intended to help repay the project's loan.

The total estimated cost of the PRR-1 project is Rs. 22,600 crore, of which Rs. 15,600 crore has been allocated for land acquisition and Rs. 7,000 crore for road construction. The funding will come from HUDCO loans, commercial plot auctions, toll collection, improvement charges, and cess on property registration.

The government has also announced four compensation options for farmers affected by land acquisition: cash compensation, Transferable Development Rights (TDR), Floor Area Ratio (FAR), and the option to receive developed residential or commercial plots. Farmers who requested 9,583 sq ft per acre in a 60:40 residential-commercial ratio will now receive 8,385 sq ft per acre in a 65:35 ratio as compensation.

The revised PRR-1 design aims to balance infrastructure development with commercial growth, ensuring that Bengaluru's growing traffic demands are met while generating revenue to fund the project.