The PRR Farmers’ and Landlords’ Association, also known as the PRR Raitha Haagu Niveshanadarara Sangha, has formally urged the Karnataka Governor to cancel Phase I of the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), now rebranded as the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC). The association claims the project’s legal validity has expired under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Act of 1976, and criticizes the “unfair” compensation proposals presented to affected landowners.
In a detailed memorandum submitted earlier this week, the association highlighted that the BDA has allegedly failed to adhere to Section 27 of the BDA Act, 1976. This crucial section dictates that if land acquisition awards are not finalized within five years of a scheme’s official notification, the entire acquisition process automatically becomes invalid.
With the final notification for the PRR dating back to June 29, 2007, the association emphasized that neither compensation awards nor possession of land has occurred, even after 18 years. They are now demanding the project’s immediate termination, asserting that the BDA is illegally continuing with land acquisition despite the scheme’s apparent legal expiration.
The association also pointed to a recent Government Order from October 17, 2025, which outlined five compensation options for affected landowners: cash, Transferable Development Rights (TDR), additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), developed residential plots, and developed commercial land. However, the farmers’ group dismissed these options as nothing more than “an eyewash” and “a blatant fraud” against farmers and landowners.
A key contention is that the proposed cash compensation is severely undervalued, as land guideline values haven’t been updated since 2016. Furthermore, the association revealed that the BDA Commissioner had previously petitioned the State government to freeze PRR land rates, purportedly to minimize acquisition expenses.
The association detailed its concerns about the compensation methods: “Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) operate without a solid legal framework, making them susceptible to market speculation and manipulation,” a spokesperson stated. They added that Floor Area Ratio (FAR) incentives, part of a new policy from February 2025, have become irrelevant as critical road-widening and urban planning goals haven’t been achieved. Additionally, they highlighted that the offer of 40% developed residential plots is based on outdated values, not current market rates, and 35% developed commercial land near the project is “legally unsustainable.” The farmers also reiterated that only the necessary 65 meters of land should be acquired, not the proposed 100 meters.
Further accusations include the BDA’s alleged failure to produce a Detailed Project Report, carry out a Social Impact Assessment, or secure essential environmental clearance from the National Green Tribunal, raising serious questions about the project’s planning and compliance.
The farmers’ organization is demanding that the Governor instruct the BDA to revise its act, address all constitutional irregularities, and issue No Objection Certificates to more than 20,000 affected families should the government fail to implement the urgently needed reforms.