Bengaluru: The long-delayed Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project — meant to connect Tumakuru Road with Hosur Road — will pass through a section of the Jarakabande Kaval reserve forest, one of north Bengaluru’s last remaining green pockets. Officials confirmed that a 700-metre elevated stretch of the corridor will cut through the forest, raising fresh ecological concerns over the already controversial project.
LK Atheeq, chairman of Bengaluru Business Corridor Ltd (the special-purpose vehicle overseeing PRR), said the road will be built at a height of 5.4 metres in this forest section, supported by two piers and spanning 35 metres in width.
“An extent of 2.4 hectares of forest land is proposed to be diverted for the project,” Atheeq said, adding that no service road would be constructed along this segment to minimise disturbance. He also claimed that undergrowth would be rejuvenated once construction ends, but did not disclose how many trees would be felled.
EIA warns of large-scale tree loss
According to the 2022 revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the PRR project is expected to result in the loss of 631 trees within Jarakabande Kaval alone. Overall, the PRR’s 73 km alignment will require the removal of 36,824 trees, including 13,355 trees within the TG Halli reservoir catchment area.
The report also cautioned that 20.9 km of the proposed alignment passes through the sensitive Arkavathy and Kumudavathy sub-catchments, potentially disrupting ecological balance in the region.
A forest department official said the proposal to route the PRR through Jarakabande Kaval — also known locally as Avalahalli forest — has existed for years, but the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has yet to formally seek diversion of forest land.
“Tree enumeration was carried out earlier, and since the PRR alignment falls within the forest, no fresh afforestation work has been taken up. The project will inevitably affect forest cover. The key concern is how the agency plans to mitigate the environmental impact during and after construction,” the official said.
Popular forest patch at risk
Spread across 120 acres, Jarakabande Kaval attracts 400–500 visitors during weekends. The reserve forest supports diverse vegetation, including large tree species and thick shrubbery. Leopards have been sighted in the area in the past, underscoring its ecological value.
Environmentalists warn that the PRR, along with other upcoming projects such as Shivarama Karanth Layout, and rapid urbanisation around north Bengaluru, could place severe pressure on the fragile ecosystem.
Experts caution of long-term ecological damage
Environmental expert KS Sangunni said construction inside forest areas can have far-reaching consequences.
“Movement of heavy machinery and pier construction will disturb the forest ecosystem. Unfortunately, official assessments often focus only on tree loss while ignoring the ecological role of shrubs. Shrubs are a crucial component of the ecosystem,” he said.
“Once construction is completed and vehicular traffic begins, noise and movement disturbances will affect bird activity and other wildlife within the forest,” he added.
The PRR, pending for nearly two decades, aims to complete Bengaluru’s ring road network and ease traffic on the Outer Ring Road (ORR). However, with significant environmental challenges still unresolved, the project continues to face scrutiny from conservationists and civic groups.