Bengaluru Business Corridor Phase 1 cost rises by ₹3,500 crore to ₹10,500 crore

The cost of the 73-km Phase 1 of the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC), formerly known as the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), has increased by around ₹3,500 crore, taking the revised project estimate to nearly ₹10,500 crore.

According to officials, the project was initially estimated at around ₹6,800 crore to ₹7,000 crore during 2022–23. The latest revision reflects major design enhancements, annual rate escalations, and expanded infrastructure components aimed at improving long-term traffic movement across Bengaluru’s rapidly growing peripheral zones.

BBC Chairperson LK Atheeq stated that the increase is largely due to updated engineering designs and revisions in the schedule of rates over the last three years. Civil construction rates have reportedly gone up by 8 to 10 percent annually, contributing significantly to the overall project value.

One of the major changes includes expanding the proposed road width from 50 metres to 65 metres, along with service roads on both sides. The revised design now also includes at least eight major interchanges, compared to just three in the original plan.

Several flyovers and elevated corridors have also been added to the alignment. A key highlight is a 5-km elevated stretch planned under Package 1. Multiple cloverleaf interchanges are proposed at critical junctions including Doddaballapura Road, Hennur Road near Byrathi, Whitefield, and Sarjapur.

The 73-km corridor has been divided into three packages of approximately 21 km, 20 km, and 30 km. These upgrades are expected to significantly improve connectivity and reduce congestion across Bengaluru’s outer growth corridors.

However, farmer groups and site owners have raised concerns over the sharp increase in costs and have questioned the tendering process. They have also flagged issues related to environmental clearance and the absence of a final Detailed Project Report.

Officials, however, maintain that the additional cost reflects design improvements rather than mere escalation and is essential for creating a future-ready mobility corridor for the city.