Renaming PRR as Bangalore Business Corridor (BBC) sparks concern among farmers

Farmers say that BBC initiative could further diminish their land holdings

Farmers demand clarity on compensation under Land Acquisition Act of 2013

The ambitious project by BDA, the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), which has languished for decades, encountered yet another obstacle with the recent tender announcement.

Renaming the PRR as the Bangalore Business Corridor (BBC) has sparked concern among farmers, raising questions about their worries and the reasons behind landowners demanding a halt to the tender process.

The PRR, a long-awaited infrastructure initiative spanning 74 kilometers and cutting through 77 villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru, has struggled to gain traction despite previous attempts to kickstart construction.

Previous tender invitations in 2022 failed to garner interest, compounded by uncertainties surrounding land compensation for affected farmers, contributing to significant project delays. With traffic congestion increasingly plaguing the tech hub, there’s urgency to accelerate the project, prompting BDA to initiate a global tender under a public-private partnership model.

However, farmers have voiced anger and apprehension regarding this latest tender. BDA’s prior acquisition of 2560 acres of farmland for the PRR has raised fears among farmers that the BBC initiative could further diminish their land holdings.

The government’s plan to re-designate farmers’ lands for the business corridor alongside the PRR has exacerbated concerns. Farmers demand clarity on compensation under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 before proceeding with the tender. Without such assurances, they threaten to resist the tender process.

The challenges facing the construction of the BDA Outer Ring Road persist, with the government attempting to assuage farmer concerns through a global tender. However, discontent among farmers persists due to a lack of clarity regarding their compensation and future land usage.