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The PRR Farmers’ and Landlords’ Association (PRR Raitha Haagu Niveshanadarara Sangha) has petitioned the Karnataka Governor to scrap the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) Phase I, now renamed the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC), alleging that the scheme has lapsed under the provisions of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Act, 1976, and that the compensation options offered to landowners were unjust. In a memorandum submitted on Monday, the association said the BDA has failed to comply with Section 27 of the BDA Act, 1976, which stipulates that if no award is passed within five years of a scheme’s final notification, the acquisition proceedings lapse. The association noted that the final notification for PRR was issued on June 29, 2007, and no award or possession has taken place even after 18 years. It has sought the quashing of the project alleging that the BDA is proceeding with land acquisition despite the scheme losing its legal validity. Referring to a recent Government Order dated October 17, 2025, which directed the BDA to finalise awards for affected landowners by offering five compensation options, including cash payment, Transferable Development Rights (TDR), additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), developed residential land, and developed commercial land, the association termed the offers ‘an eyewash’ and ‘a fraud played on farmers and landowners’. It argued that cash compensation is undervalued since guideline values have not been revised since 2016. The BDA Commissioner wrote to the State government then, requesting that land rates under PRR not be increased, allegedly to reduce acquisition costs. “The TDRs lack a robust legal framework and are prone to speculation and manipulation. The FAR incentives, introduced under the new policy in February 2025, have lost significance as road-widening and urban planning objectives remain unmet. Moreover, 40% developed residential plots as compensation is calculated based on outdated guideline values that fail to reflect current market rates and 35% developed commercial land adjacent to the project area is legally untenable,” the association said, pointing out that only the required 65 metres of land be acquired instead of 100 metres. It also alleged that the BDA has failed to prepare a Detailed Project Report, conduct a Social Impact Assessment, or obtain environmental clearance from the National Green Tribunal. The farmers’ body demanded that the Governor direct the BDA to amend its act, rectify constitutional violations, and issue a No Objection Certificate to over 20,000 affected families if the government fails to bring necessary reforms.
