The Outer Ring Road has long been Bengaluru’s most scrutinized corridor. Stretching between Central Silk Board and KR Puram, it carries over 9.5 lakh daily commuters, with more than 3 lakh vehicles on the road at peak hours, according to the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA). The association also estimates that this stretch contributes nearly ₹2.65 lakh crore annually to the city’s economy, yet it remains crippled by congestion, flooding, unsafe walking conditions, and inadequate public transport.
At peak times, average speeds fall to 4.4 km/h, footpaths are broken or missing, and flooding during monsoons regularly disrupts movement and business. Despite being Bengaluru’s primary tech corridor, it functions largely as a traffic conduit.
Reimagining the ORR as a Tender SURE road offers an opportunity to transform it from a traffic corridor into a people-oriented urban spine. By introducing uniform travel lanes, safe crossings, continuous cycling tracks and footpaths, and storm water drains, the ORR can support both mobility and urban life, setting a benchmark for how Bengaluru redesigns its busiest corridors.
