Long-pending widening of Uttarahalli-Mysuru Road gets fresh push with new TDR scheme

Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Development Ministry has assured the state Legislative Assembly that the widening of Uttarahalli Main Road, which connects to Mysuru Road, will be completed quickly. This follows a renewed interest in the project under a new Transferable Development Rights (TDR) scheme, as stated by Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday.

Responding to a question from Yeshwantpur MLA S.T. Somashekhar, the minister said a work order for the road widening was issued in 2021, but the project could not proceed due to a lack of response from property owners under the earlier TDR scheme. As many as 133 properties were identified for acquisition to facilitate the expansion of the road.

However, the new TDR scheme has changed the outlook. According to the minister, owners of 30 properties have already given their consent for acquisition, while the remaining owners have also shown interest. This is seen as a positive development, as the previous scheme had failed to elicit such participation.

The TDR scheme allows property owners to receive development rights in lieu of monetary compensation for their land. Certificates issued under this scheme enable owners to construct either in certain designated areas or transfer those rights to others. This mechanism is often used in Bengaluru for infrastructure projects where land acquisition is challenging.

The minister also said that approximately 30,000 sq ft of land near Krishnapriya Kalyanamantapa has already been acquired through the issuance of TDR certificates. This indicates that the project is now moving beyond the planning stage.

Another significant obstacle was a stretch of the road passing through the Karnataka State Reserve Forest region. The minister informed the assembly that a joint survey with the Forest Department has been completed, and the land will soon be handed over to B-SMILE, the agency responsible for executing the project. This will enable the agency to complete the road-widening without further hindrance.

Uttarahalli Main Road is a major connector for several residential areas, including Uttarahalli, Subramanyapura, and Chikkalasandra. It provides access to Mysuru Road, one of the key arterial routes of Bengaluru. The road has been in need of widening for many years, and commuters have frequently complained about traffic congestion, particularly during morning and evening rush hours.

The completion of this project is expected to ease traffic flow and improve connectivity for thousands of daily commuters. It is also part of the state government's broader vision to enhance Bengaluru's urban infrastructure and address the growing demands of its expanding population.

While no specific timeline has been announced, the minister's statement in the assembly offers hope that the project, which has been pending for years, will finally be executed. The combination of a more effective TDR scheme and the resolution of forest land issues appears to have paved the way for early completion.