B-SMILE scraps ORR redevelopment tender again, to audit potential encroachments along the stretch

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The development follows directions from the Greater Bengaluru Development Minister, Krishna Byre Gowda, who instructed the Special Purpose Vehicle to hold a public consultation before finalising the redevelopment design

Published - July 19, 2026 09:43 pm IST - Bengaluru

According to an internal report, several establishments in Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabeesanahalli have encroached upon the road. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) has revoked the tender for the redevelopment of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) for the second time, as it plans to conduct an audit to identify encroachments along the stretch and rework the design.

The development follows directions from the Greater Bengaluru Development Minister, Krishna Byre Gowda, who instructed the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to hold a public consultation before finalising the redevelopment design.

A B-SMILE source confirmed to The Hindu that the tenders have been revoked and preparations are under way to identify potential encroachments. According to an internal report, several establishments in Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabeesanahalli have encroached upon the road.

“When we first conceptualised the design, we focused only on the redevelopment and did not consider a review. However, subsequent site visits revealed that the stretch width is uneven at multiple points, so encroachments have to be identified and the space be reclaimed,” the official said.

He also said that the B-SMILE would soon seek feedback from local residents on the requirements and possible value additions to the project before finalising the design.

“There have been flaws in the technical design of the existing drains, which have caused flooding in the past. This is because one side is at a higher elevation, leading to improper flow of water,” the official said. “The audit will also examine such areas and redesign the drains to address the problem,” he added.

The irregularities came to light during the heavy rain that lashed the city on June 2, leading to bumper-to-bumper traffic and complete disruption for over two hours. Several vulnerable points have been identified between K.R. Puram and Iblur Junction, particularly around Marathahalli, where severe flooding occurred.

The official also said that the earlier design had excluded work on the service roads, as the East City Corporation had already asphalted several stretches. However, it has now been decided to include those sections for resurfacing as well.

Multiple changes in plans

In October 2025, the SPV finalised the initial design and even proposed extending quality monitoring beyond the Defect Liability Period (DLP) by imposing stricter quality control measures for the stretch. The B-SMILE had initially planned to rework only two lanes of the main carriageway, including the bus priority lane. It had first proposed white-topping junctions along the 17.1-km stretch but later revised the plan following objections from the Bengaluru Traffic Police.

The SPV subsequently revised the design again and proposed white-topping the entire stretch, citing its long-term durability, as the ORR is one of the city’s major corridors and could not be subjected to frequent reworking.

Although tenders were floated and the lowest bidder was selected, the SPV cancelled the process and invited fresh bids, citing technical issues. It has now cancelled the tenders for the second time.

Published - July 19, 2026 09:43 pm IST

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