Bengaluru Outer Ring Road White-Topping to Begin in October, Minister Confirms

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has announced that the main carriageway of Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road (ORR) will be white-topped, with construction work scheduled to begin in October and conclude by January. The decision comes despite opposition and concerns raised by residents and police regarding traffic disruption along the corridor.

The project is being executed by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), which clarified that white-topping has been the plan from the outset and that no alternative resurfacing methods are being considered for the main carriageway. Mr. Gowda had recently sought public feedback on the resurfacing approach, asking citizens to email their suggestions to the Bengaluru East City Corporation.

The planned roadwork has prompted concerns over severe traffic congestion on one of the city's busiest stretches. Police officials previously pointed out that the road would have to remain only partially operational during construction, which could result in bumper-to-bumper traffic at several points during peak commute hours. Residents had urged authorities to postpone the project until the launch of the Blue Line Metro, arguing that functional public transit would provide commuters an alternative and reduce pressure on the road.

Acknowledging the likelihood of severe traffic issues, the Minister instructed officials to coordinate with companies situated along the ORR to arrange for at least 50% of their staff to work from home while construction is under way.

Mr. Gowda also directed officials to build continuous footpaths measuring at least three metres in width along the corridor, with footpaths on slip roads extending up to 1.8 metres wide. Where buffer space exists along service roads, designated and colour-coded taxi and bus drop-off and pick-up points are to be established, along with bus bays constructed on the main carriageway.

Officials were further instructed to consult with the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) and the Police Department to finalise traffic-management plans and resolve all pending procedures without delay.

ORRCA representatives stated that while the project is likely to cause traffic chaos during execution, they have been meeting with civic authorities to review alignments, identify alternative routes, and establish measures to minimise disruptions, noting the project could ultimately benefit the corridor if planned properly.