PRR compensation sets precedent as landowners accept compensation voluntarily: DKS

Bengaluru:

Landowners affected by the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project are willingly coming forward to accept compensation, an unprecedented development in infrastructure projects across the country, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Monday. Referring to the PRR as an example of smoother land acquisition, he said compensation payments have already begun, with individual payouts ranging from ₹3 crore to as much as ₹10–15 crore.

Mr. Shivakumar noted that had the PRR project been implemented earlier, it would have cost the government only ₹4,000–₹5,000 crore, but delays have significantly escalated expenses. Meanwhile, the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed tunnel road connecting K.R. Puram and Mysuru Road is currently under preparation, he said.

He added that the DPR for a 44-km-long double-decker road project has been completed and that the project, estimated to cost around ₹9,000 crore, will soon be tendered. Infrastructure facilities are also being developed on land provided by the military as part of coordination with defence authorities, he said, adding that ₹50 crore has been earmarked for street vendors as part of the government’s urban development initiatives.

About the Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout, the Deputy Chief Minister said the court has directed the government to compensate landowners whose land was acquired for the project. Of the 34,977 sites planned under the layout, around 17,000 are to be allotted to landowners. He said the government plans to hold a special function to distribute compensation to all eligible landowners, coinciding with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) completing 50 years.

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Responding to criticism over granting Cabinet rank to chairpersons of 54 corporations and boards, Mr. Shivakumar defended the decision, stating that there was nothing wrong in rewarding party workers who played a role in bringing the government to power. He added that similar precedents had been followed by the BJP in the past.

On civic governance, the Deputy Chief Minister said the State government has rolled out the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) afresh to improve administration in the city and is proceeding with elections in accordance with court verdicts and directions. Addressing concerns over revenue leakage, he said the government has undertaken large-scale digitisation of municipal records, including scanning of documents and the rollout of the e-Khata system.

Mr. Shivakumar said the Cauvery software has been implemented to prevent tax leakage and that records of around 25 lakh properties have been digitised so far, with 9.5 lakh e-Khata documents already issued. Officials have been instructed to provide access to the application free of cost, he said, noting that many property owners were earlier unaware of details related to their own properties.

He further said the process of converting B-Khata properties to A-Khata has begun, with around 7,000 applications received so far and more expected in the coming days. A 15-day time limit has been fixed for completing the conversion process.

Rejecting criticism that development in Bengaluru has slowed down, the Deputy Chief Minister said several infrastructure works are currently underway including white-topping of roads across 1,600 km, street-lighting works, and a measures on traffic improvement measures across the city.