Connecting Cities, Dividing Opinions

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Ring road projects are becoming a key strategy for enhancing connectivity and boosting economic development: Chennai's Outer Ring Road has influenced the development of nearby satellite townships. While they promise improved infrastructure, these projects often stir concerns around land acquisition and environmental impact. With farmers protesting and debates over its effectiveness, what direction will ring road projects take in shaping the future of Indian cities?

Nehru Outer Ring Road (Hyderabad ORR) TOT Project | Source: IRB Infrastructure Trust

Perceived to ease traffic congestion, enhance connectivity, and foster economic corridors, ring road developments have been gaining prominence for smaller Indian cities. The impact of Chennai’s Outer Ring Road has led to the ongoing development of newer satellite townships such as Chengalpattu and Thirumazhisai.

In 2018, the Karnataka government announced its ambitious plans of constructing ring roads for all its district headquarters. Four years later, agreements with the Union Government set in motion the ring road projects for Raichur, Koppala, Belagavi, Kalburgi, and Gadag, along with GST exemptions on road building materials. However, it remains unclear whether Passenger Car Unit (PCU) studies had been conducted to determine the actual need for ring roads for these cities.

Ashish Verma, an associate professor from IISc, presented a technical paper analysing Bengaluru and stated that road corridor and widening projects remain ineffective in reducing congestion in the longer run.

Farmers in rural and semi-urban areas have also faced significant challenges, exemplified by the protest against the Belagavi Ring Road. Earmarked lands notified for ring road development are the fertile lands of many small farmers who fear the loss of their livelihoods at the stake of such projects.

In November last year, farmers in Belagavi protested against the Karnataka Government, demanding to drop the plans of a ring road & a new Belagavi-Dharwad railway line. In October 2023, farmers have appealed to the High Court against the NHAI. Source: Farmers protest in Belgavi | Badiger PK, The Hindu

In April 2022, Dr. T Brajakumar (Joint Director of DoE&CC, Govt. of Manipur) addressed people affected by the proposed Imphal Town Ring Road project. This public hearing sought feedback for the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report & Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) for the project’s land acquisition. Source: Public hearing at Imphal for the Ring Road Project | Eastern Mirror

However, a PCU survey conducted in 2018 by the Department of Town Planning in Imphal found that 6 major junctions of the city were congested. The 2019 traffic survey by the SPA Bhopal also contributed to the Master Plan of Greater Imphal 2041, which prompted the proposal of a 32 km long Imphal Ring Road (IRR) under the Smart City Mission.

While ring road development offers prospects for economic growth and improved connectivity, it also raises issues of land acquisition, along with economic and environmental impact. The evolving urban landscape demands a collaborative approach, with citizens increasingly advocating for public consultations to make development more inclusive and sustainable.

क्या आपके शहर के लिए रिंग रोड परियोजना की घोषणा की गई है?

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How do you see it impacting your city’s future?