The Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) as envisaged in the Mysuru Master Plan 2031 may be a non-starter in the near future as it is perceived that the current pace of the city’s growth does not warrant it.
Though Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) announced the PRR almost three years ago, the project is yet to get off the ground as it is not a priority among the city planners.
However, senior officials in MUDA told The Hindu that the project has not been scrapped and will definitely be taken up at some point. But there is no sense of urgency and a time frame to take it up immediately as the existing Outer Ring Road is yet to be saturated in terms of traffic density.
“Given the current pace of the city’s growth, it is premature to talk about PR, but it may become a pressing [matter] after another three or five years,” an official said.
The 43-km ORR took more than 10 years for completion and diverts goods carriers and traffic meant for industrial areas to reduce congestion within the city.
There is a perception among town planners that the traffic density along the six-lane road, which has been handed over to the National Highways Authority of India for maintenance, has not reached saturation point. Besides, the area surrounding the ORR is yet to be fully developed even though plot development has gained traction. Residential areas have come up along the ORR and Bogadi Road junction, but not elsewhere.
However, the alignment of the PRR has been drawn up in the master plan and the MUDA is not allowing land acquisition by realtors for property development anywhere along that alignment. Besides, a fresh GPS-based survey has been ordered by the government to finalise the alignment and make changes at the ground level, if required.
The PRR is envisaged to have a circumference of 103 km, and the existing roads in the hinterland will be linked and broadened in most stretches while a portion will be newly developed.
“It will be 7-10 km beyond the existing ORR and will require additional land to the extent of nearly 920 acres. The MUDA envisages at least ₹1,500 crore for project completion,” the official said.
When developed, the PRR will also pave way for inclusion of a cluster of nearly 40 semi-urbanised villages on the outskirts of the city to be incorporated under the local body that could be upgraded as Greater Mysuru.
