more-in For those in Whitefield, the commute time to international airport may get shorter in three years as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is fast-tracking a Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) between Hoskote and Dobbspet. The 80.32-km, ?2,870-crore road will establish the Ring Road along the northern fringes of the city, traversing through Devanahalli and Doddaballapur, passing within a couple of kilometres from the proposed entry into the Eastern Tunnel Road conceived by the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). For NHAI officials, the project assumes importance as the other STRR arc, which connects Dobbspet to Hosur on the southern fringe of the city, is expected to run into delays over wildlife and forest permissions for constructing an elevated road through Bannerghatta National Park. Officials believe the approval process for this arc may take up to two years on this stretch. “Until then, the STRR from Hoskote to Dobbspet can be constructed relatively fast. We expect it to be operational within three years, and will see immediate diversion of vehicles that would have otherwise gone on Ring Road or through the city,” says S.P. Somashekhar, Project Director, NHAI. He said a detailed feasibility report was being prepared and the tenders will be awarded by March 2019. “By August 2019, work will start. The contractor will be given a standard time of 30 months for work,” he said. Delayed project It was in 2011 that the project had taken off with the intention of constructing a four-lane road at a cost of ?720 crore. By 2012, the concessionaire, Transstroy Ltd., started groundwork with NHAI expecting its construction by 2014. With work hardly progressing despite 400 hectares of land being acquired, the deadline was pushed to 2016. By May 2017, groundwork had been done only on a couple of stretches and NHAI was forced to terminate the contract. In the meantime, the project was selected under the Bharatmala Pariyojane, allowing the project to be expanded to six-lane and access controlled. This would allow commuters and transport vehicles to cover the distance between Hosur and Dobbspet in 1.5 hours, completely bypassing Bengaluru and other satellite towns. NHAI documents show that nearly 134.2 hectares of land will be needed for the project, with nearly 7 hectares coming from minor reserve forests. Airport access For those in Whitefield, the project could come as a boon. The new road is around 35 km from the airport (assuming the Eastern tunnel is built), while the current “alternative road to the airport” is around 33 km from the IT hub. The time taken, however, may be halved during peak hours. Similarly, officials expect travel time from Electronics City and Sarjapur towards the airport to be considerably reduced as travel through the city will be bypassed.

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