NIRANJAN MAILED PIX IN 2 SETS
The two long-delayed road projects in east and south Bengaluru were facing problems in land acquisition and forest clearances collectively for 20-plus years. Story: 1 4.5-acre land in coastal district helps clear Gunjur-ORR road hurdle Conceived nearly two decades ago as an alternative route to Varthur-Panathur-Gunjur belt, a crucial road link is finally getting ready. The state govt has removed a hurdle by identifying 5.4 acres of alternative govt land in Dakshina Kannada to be handed over to forest department in exchange for the crucial forest patch in Bengaluru’s Panathur required for the road project. The move could pave the way for completion of a 6.2-km, 140-ft-wide road connecting Gunjur to Outer Ring Road (ORR) via New Horizon College. It’s a key corridor under 2015 Comprehensive Development Plan. The unfinished link has been caught in a web of obstacles — nearly six acres of forest land, a KPTCL substation, 20 private properties and two temples. Civic officials had sought diversion of 22,088 sqm in survey nos. 52 and 53 of Panathur village and submitted the proposal to Centre in Jan 2026. I will ensure remaining work is completed at the earliest — Manjula Limbavali, MLA, Mahadevapura Story: 2 Revised TDR helps Uttarahalli road break 4-yr deadlock A crucial road linking Uttarahalli to Mysuru Road in south Bengaluru is stuck in land acquisition hurdles for four years.
Forest land at the CDP road Gunjur Bengaluru: Lakhs of motorists in east Bengaluru must thank Belthangady — a town in Dakshina Kannada about 300km from the IT hub — for finally clearing a decades-old traffic bottleneck in Sarjapur-Mahadevapura tech corridor. Similarly, a sweetened land deal in the form of revised transferable development rights (TDR) has helped a key south Bengaluru road clear hurdles. Now, it’s set to be a smooth ride on these two roads. Designed to provide a direct connection between Gunjur, Varthur, Panathur and ORR, the road was meant to take pressure off choked roads of east Bengaluru. But while portions at both ends have been completed, the crucial middle stretch has remained missing for years, forcing commuters to squeeze through a handful of narrow and congested roads. Of these, securing the forest land has proved to be the biggest roadblock. As per the environment ministry, govt had to provide equivalent compensatory land before forest land could be diverted. Officials finally identified suitable govt land in Cheebidare village of Belthangady taluk in Dakshina Kannada. Bengaluru East City Corporation requested Dakshina Kannada administration to facilitate land transfer to forest department. QUOTE Thousands of commuters from Gunjur, Varthur and Panathur spend hours every day navigating congested roads, and I have personally experienced traffic snarls along this stretch. This road was envisioned to provide a direct connection to ORR and significantly improve connectivity and mobility in the region. Resolution of forest clearance issue is a major breakthrough, achieved through sustained follow-up with various departments. This brings us closer to delivering long-awaited relief to residents. Now, a revamped TDR scheme is offering a fresh chance to break the deadlock.
An earlier proposal to provide compensatory land near Anekal was rejected, while another one involving a site in Mandur was deemed unsuitable for afforestation.
Despite the work order issued in 2021, the project has remained stalled since authorities were required to acquire land from 133 private properties. Following the introduction of a new TDR scheme, owners of 30 of 133 properties have submitted consent forms and supporting documents, agreeing to surrender the required land in return for TDR benefits. The remaining 103 property owners have also expressed interest in accepting TDR. More than 30,000 sqft of land near Krishna Priya Kalyana Mantapa has been acquired through TDR. Around 650 metres of the proposed widened road passes through a protected forest area.
The project was delayed mainly due to difficulties in acquiring private properties. B-Smile will soon take over the required land, paving the way for the project to be completed at a faster pace — Krishna Byre Gowda, Bengaluru development minister The road-widening project had been stuck for several years due to property-related hurdles. Because of the narrow ‘chicken-neck’ stretch near Kengeri, which frequently caused jams and left commuters stranded for hours, many motorists were avoiding this route.
This will provide commuters with a smoother and more efficient alternative route — ST Somashekar, MLA, Yeshwantpur You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
“We have completed inspection for acquiring the land and the process of obtaining the area is expected to begin shortly,” a GBA official said. Uttarahalli Main Road is a vital east-west artery, connecting to Mysuru Road and other western parts of the city. Once widened, the road is expected to strengthen connectivity towards Kanakapura Road, Bannerghatta, Kengeri and Mylasandra. QUOTES Govt will soon complete widening of Uttarahalli Road. However, landowners have now shown interest in the revised TDR scheme, and work is gaining momentum as more people are coming forward to give their consent for acquisition. Forest clearance, which was another major hurdle, has been secured. This is a crucial stretch for commuters travelling from Bannerghatta and Kanakapura Road towards Mysuru Road. Govt has now resolved pending issues, and remaining work is expected to be completed in the next few months. Download the TOI App.
Under the earlier TDR system, the voluntary nature of land surrender meant property owners showed little interest.