BMRDA notifies new mobility road grid for Bengaluru Metropolitan Region
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Most of the roads notified now are brownfield roads, widening small village roads and other key roads to accommodate more traffic.
The State government has notified a new mobility road grid for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region (BMR), beyond the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area, in an attempt to prevent problems that arise due to unplanned development from recurring in the fast-urbanising areas surrounding it.
This comes on the heels of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s footprint being expanded to include all of the Bengaluru Urban district.
Most of the roads notified now are brownfield roads, widening small village roads and other key roads to accommodate more traffic. The notification was issued under the Revised Bengaluru Structure Plan-2031 by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).
“The new notification covers hundreds of roads, including existing zilla panchayat, PWD, and State Highway roads that have been proposed for widening. Roads that were previously as narrow as 10 metres have been notified for widths of 30 metres, 45 metres and, in some cases, up to 90 metres. These roads have been notified as Comprehensive Development Plan roads in a grid pattern to support planned urban expansion,” said Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday.
Rajendra Cholan, Metropolitan Commissioner, BMRDA, said this was the first time a mobility grid exercise was conducted, following a drone survey of the area to assess gaps in the road network. “Most of these are brownfield roads being widened. Village roads connecting to district roads, roads connecting to the Peripheral Ring Road, Satellite Township Ring Road and other such major corridors will be widened to 30 metres, even up to 45 metres,” he said, adding, “For instance, there was a gap in connectivity between Anekal and Hoskote; that road stretch of around 40 kms will be developed now. Other key roads like Chapparakallu Road and IVC Road, which are key link roads, will be developed,” he said.
The grid plan also includes developing integrated freight hubs and intermodal transport hubs at all major towns surrounding Bengaluru, a proposed monorail, metro and bus rapid transport corridors.
Various government bodies working under the BMR would take up these road projects over the coming years. Mr. Gowda said complete construction of the identified road network could take five to ten years. “Given that the identified road network runs into thousands of kilometres, it will not be possible to construct all the roads simultaneously. The departments concerned have therefore been directed to take up the roads in phases and based on priority,” he said.
Mr. Gowda on Tuesday appealed to the people not to construct buildings or develop layouts along these alignments. “Land required for the notified road corridors will have to be left vacant while undertaking new layouts or constructing houses in these areas, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions,” he said.
Mr. Gowda said that officials have also been directed to prepare and upload videos showing the existing and proposed road alignments on the BMRDA website.
“The BMRDA, zilla panchayat, and PWD officials have also been directed to jointly identify the notified roads and display the details on gram panchayat and Revenue Department notice boards,” he said.
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