Bengaluru ORR White-Topping Work to Begin in October, ₹450 Crore Project Targets Silk Board-KR Puram Stretch

Bengaluru is set to begin a major road upgrade on its Outer Ring Road, with white-topping work planned from October on the 17-km stretch between Silk Board Junction and KR Puram. The Karnataka government has approved ₹450 crore for the project, which is expected to focus not only on strengthening the road but also on improving traffic management along one of the city’s busiest corridors.

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda directed officials to prepare for the work during a review meeting with senior government, infrastructure and police officials. The meeting focused on how construction could be carried out while keeping traffic moving along the corridor.

One of the key measures discussed was reducing traffic volumes during the construction period. The minister asked officials to engage with companies operating along the Outer Ring Road and explore arrangements under which around 50% of employees could work from home. The move is intended to reduce pressure on the road while construction is underway.

Officials were also asked to examine the use of internal roads to divert traffic and consult the Outer Ring Road Companies Association and the police before finalising traffic-management plans.

Pedestrian infrastructure is another focus of the proposed work. Byre Gowda directed officials to provide continuous footpaths with a minimum width of three metres along the main corridor. On side roads, footpaths could be up to 1.8 metres wide. The plan also includes designated taxi and bus pick-up and drop-off points, along with colour coding where suitable buffer areas are available.

The government has also called for roadside encroachments to be removed and private transformers installed in public spaces to be identified and relocated. Bus bays are proposed along the main carriageway to improve public transport operations.

The Silk Board-KR Puram corridor is an important employment and commercial belt in Bengaluru, with a large concentration of technology and business establishments. Managing traffic during the upgrade will therefore be critical to ensuring that the project delivers its intended benefits without creating prolonged disruption.

The white-topping project comes as Bengaluru continues to look for ways to improve the durability and performance of its heavily used road network. The government’s approach combines road construction with traffic management, pedestrian facilities and public transport improvements.