Bengaluru: Greater Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed officials to begin white-topping works on Outer Ring Road (ORR) in Oct and complete them by Jan 2027, while also rolling out a series of pedestrian and traffic-management measures along the corridor for the Rs 450-crore ORR redevelopment project.At a review meeting Thursday, the minister instructed agencies to build continuous three-metre-wide footpaths, remove encroachments, identify private transformers installed in public spaces, and create designated bus/taxi pick-up and drop-off points wherever space is available. Officials were asked to construct bus bays on the main carriageway.To reduce traffic disruption during the work, Byre Gowda said officials have been directed to engage with companies along ORR and facilitate 50% work-from-home arrangements. The minister asked agencies to use internal roads for traffic diversions and consult Outer Ring Road Companies’ Association (ORRCA) and traffic police before finalising mobility plans.At a recent ORRCA meeting attended by over 100 company representatives, nearly 70% urged govt to focus on completing the Metro network before launching new ORR projects. Citing delays and poor infrastructure, companies said confidence in authorities’ execution capabilities has weakened, a concern shared by their global headquarters.
