Bengaluru's ORR nightmare to end? Cabinet approves Rs 307 cr Silk Board to KR Puram mega makeover

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In a significant move to address Bengaluru’s notorious traffic gridlock, the Karnataka state cabinet has approved a comprehensive Rs 307 crore redesign for a critical 17-kilometre segment of Outer Ring Road (ORR). The project, sanctioned on Thursday, targets the heavily congested corridor between the Silk Board junction and KR Puram metro station.

The ambitious overhaul, as reported by Deccan Herald, aims to transform the commuting experience on one of the city’s most vital arterial routes. Plans detailed by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) officials include reconfiguring the stretch into a 10-lane thoroughfare. This will comprise three main carriageway lanes and two service road lanes on each side.

A key feature of the revamp is the revival of the currently defunct bus priority lane, a measure officials explicitly link to decongestion efforts. “We also plan to revive the defunct bus priority lane to help decongest traffic,” a senior B-SMILE official was cited by Deccan Herald as saying.

Beyond vehicle traffic, the project promises a boost for pedestrians and cyclists. The design mandates continuous brushed-concrete footpaths on both sides of the ORR, which will also function as dedicated cycle lanes. While certain deteriorated sections of the road will require complete reconstruction, the majority of the stretch will receive a new top layer of standard bituminous concrete.

The upgrade also envisages modern bus shelters equipped with passenger information panels. Furthermore, a skywalk under the metro line connecting Iblur to KR Puram has been proposed. However, officials clarified that this particular element would only proceed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and is not part of the current funding approval.

Notably, the cabinet-approved budget of Rs 307 crore comes in substantially lower than initial project estimates, which were reportedly around Rs 400 crore. This indicates a focused scope for the current phase of work.

The ORR, particularly the Silk Board-KR Puram segment, is a daily nightmare for lakhs of tech corridor employees and residents, frequently becoming a parking lot during peak hours. This long-awaited infrastructure intervention represents a direct response to one of Bengaluru’s most persistent civic challenges.