Bengaluru's New Bypass Road Threatens Jarakabande Kaval Forest

As of November 16th, 2025, Bengaluru is gearing up for the construction of a new 73 km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) that aims to connect Tumakuru Road with Hosur Road. However, this ambitious infrastructure project is raising significant environmental concerns.

According to the chairman of Bengaluru Business Corridor Ltd, LK Atheeq, a 700-metre segment of the PRR will pass through the Jarakabande Kaval reserve forest. To mitigate the impact, the road will be elevated to a height of 5.4 metres, built as a 35-metre-wide flyover supported by two piers. Despite this, the project will still require the diversion of 2.4 hectares of forest land.

The environmental impact of the PRR is substantial. A revised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted in 2022 had estimated that 631 trees would be cut within the Jarakabande Kaval forest alone. In total, the report identified 36,824 trees across the entire PRR alignment that would be removed for the project, including 13,355 trees in the TG Halli reservoir catchment area.

Environmentalists are deeply concerned about the project's impact on the Jarakabande Kaval forest, which spans 120 acres and attracts 400-500 visitors on weekends. KS Sangunni, an environmental expert, warns that the construction activity, heavy machinery, and the movement of vehicles could disrupt wildlife, disturb birds, and damage the essential ecological role of the forest's shrubs.

Despite these concerns, the Bangalore Development Authority has yet to formally seek forest land diversion for the PRR project. Experts caution that the project will inevitably affect the region's forest cover and call for a more comprehensive assessment of its environmental impact.