No sign of PRR,but BDA paid consultancy firm 90 lakh

The firm had been contracted to conduct a detailed topographical survey over 115km for the project.The report was to be submitted within two months,but seven years on,it is still not complete 

The much-hyped Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) continues to be a mirage for commuters,but that has not stopped the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) from spending lakhs of rupees in consulting fees for the project.

The PRR project was to commence in 2006,but the project has been stuck in limbo and is now awaiting the nod from the finance committee.And although no progress on the project has been made on the ground,the BDA has spent close to Rs 90 lakh in the last seven years merely drawing up detailed project reports (DPR) and fixing the alignment.

The BDA had contracted city based Alcon Consulting Engineers and Architects in January 2006 to conduct a detailed topographical survey for Phase I and II of the project comprising 115 km.The firm was to be paid Rs 60.37 lakh and it was to complete the work in two months.

Seven years on,Alcon is still to complete its work.The BDA has now asked it to submit its reports by the March 31 this year.Moreover,the BDA has revised the contract amount to Rs 89.93 lakh and the planning authority has already made payment of Rs 76 lakh.

Alcon Consulting threw up some interesting findings in the course of its survey.It found that on certain stretches,the alignment cut through educational buildings,residential buildings,the Janatha Colony,tanks,Ashraya houses,horticulture farms,a temple,a grave yard,a church and reserve forest area.

Following these findings,the BDA then asked the firm to conduct additional surveys at six different stretches totaling 52.50 km.Alcon Consulting claimed additional consultancy fees of Rs 16.56 lakh on prorate basis for 48.30 km at Rs 34,300 per km.

But there were more hurdles in Alcon Consulting submitting its final reports.In June 2007,the government had issued final notification for acquisition of land under Phase I of the project.But when BDA officials inspected the Phase I route,they found that the alignment needed to be shifted at the existing MRPL gas pipeline near Bileshivali,Vaderahalli,Ramapura and Aduru villages and on the BDA approved layout and residential apartment in Bidarena Agrahara,Doddabanahalli,Kannamangala,Sigehalli and Kadugodi.

Even while Alcon was working on a fresh alignment,ABIDe subcommittee members,on October 23,2008,asked BDA to investigate the possibility of linking PRR Phase I with BMICP corridor at Tumkur Road and Hosur Road junction.

According to officials,the DPR for the proposed project is yet to be finalised and also as the type of execution of this project (BOOT,Annuity or VGF basis) is yet to be approved by the state cabinet.