Bengaluru’s IT corridor stretch to be upgraded to ‘global standards’, GBA approves Rs 450-crore plan

This vital corridor between Silk Board junction and KR Puram passes through six major junctions — including HSR Layout, Agara, Iblur, and Marathahalli — and forms the arterial backbone of Bengaluru’s technology hub. The area employs approximately 6.42 lakh people, with about half commuting daily using an estimated 3.38 lakh personal vehicles, highlighting the strategic importance of this infrastructure upgrade.

During the meeting, the committee highlighted that the prevailing issues were heavy congestion, bottlenecks, drainage gaps, pedestrian safety deficiencies, and construction conflicts with ongoing metro works.

The work has been divided into two packages — the Silk Board to Iblur Junction section spanning 5.44 kilometres will cost Rs 143 crore, while the longer Iblur Junction to KR Puram stretch covering 11.57 kilometres is estimated at Rs 307 crore.

Full-Depth Reclamation method to be adopted

According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR), approximately 35 per cent of the main carriageway and 20 per cent of service roads are currently in distressed condition, necessitating urgent intervention.

The committee, headed by R K Jaigopal, has recommended Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) instead of routine asphalting for sections experiencing repeated damage. FDR involves pulverizing existing pavement layers and stabilizing them with binders to create a robust new base — a technique rarely attempted at this scale in the city.

The committee has also directed authorities to examine the possibility of incorporating a 10-year maintenance clause that demands the asphalt pavement surface to meet prescribed standards post-completion.

Modifications recommended

To enhance road capacity, secondary medians and existing bus stops will be removed, creating at least one additional traffic lane. Bus stops currently positioned on medians will be relocated to the footpath side for improved traffic flow.

The committee has mandated uniform, wider footpaths and continuous cycle tracks throughout the corridor.

Direction to prepare updated acquisition lists

However, officers noted concerns regarding incomplete land acquisition and misaligned property boundaries, directing the East and South City corporations and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to conduct joint inspections and prepare updated acquisition lists.

Additional directives include using Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) for flyover resurfacing, installing modern street lighting beneath Metro columns, examining the feasibility of constructing a bridge at the Doddanekundi railway crossing, and relocating the Muneshwara Temple to facilitate service road widening.

The TAC has also ordered structural assessments of all eight flyovers and three underpasses along the corridor.

The DPR report stated that 50 per cent of the project cost, amounting to Rs 225 сrоге, is to be contributed by the Bengaluru East and South City Corporations.

The Director (Technical), BSMILE, is instructed to coordinate with both City Corporations and take necessary action to obtain the said contribution and ensure its deposit with BSMILE. Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (BSMILE), the state government’s special purpose vehicle, is assigned the task of managing the implementation of the project.

Technical advisory committee member R K Mishra pointed out that the ORR stretch was developed 10 years ago, and only overlay works have been taken up since then. Due to various development works such as Metro, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL), and other utilities, substantial damage has occurred to the base layers, Mishra said. Since the road is now being comprehensively redeveloped, it was suggested that service road improvement may be taken up at the final stage, after the completion of utility and main carriageway works, he added.