Farmers Accuse Bengaluru Authority of Reviving ‘Lapsed’ Land Acquisition for Ring Road Project
BENGALURU, September 25, 2025 – Farmers and residents from 74 villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru are intensifying their two-decade-long fight against the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, alleging that the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is illegally attempting to resurrect a land acquisition process that legally expired years ago. The conflict escalated as representatives submitted a formal memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday, demanding the project be scrapped and their land rights restored.
The protest, led by the P.R.R. Raitha Haagu Niveshanadarara Sangha, centres on a 65-kilometre road project initially conceived to decongest city traffic. Farmers contend that the BDA’s recent efforts to acquire land are based on outdated and legally invalid notifications from 2007.
Two Decades of Uncertainty and Legal Limbo
The saga began with preliminary land acquisition notifications issued by the BDA between 2005 and 2006. Final notifications followed in 2007, but for the next 18 years, the authority neither took possession of the land nor compensated the landowners. The farmers argue that this inaction renders the acquisition null and void.
“Section 27 of the BDA Act clearly states that if an award is not passed within five years, the scheme lapses,” said Mavalipura B Srinivas, president of the Sangha. “For 20 years, we have lived with financial loss, mental agony, and restrictions on our own property while the BDA did nothing. Now they are trying to revive an old, dead notification.”
This prolonged period of limbo has, according to the farmers, caused significant economic, social, and educational distress, with landowners unable to sell, mortgage, or develop their properties due to the cloud of acquisition.
Clash Over Compensation: Old Law vs. New
A core point of contention is the compensation framework. The farmers allege the BDA is deliberately applying the archaic Land Acquisition Act of 1894 to avoid paying fair market value. They demand that the project adhere to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR), which offers higher compensation and rehabilitation benefits.
“BDA is trying to pay based on 2016 guideline rates even though market rates are 10 to 20 times higher today,” said Srinivas Murthy, the Sangha’s secretary. “This is not just unfair; it is illegal when new projects must follow the 2013 Act.”
The memorandum further accuses the BDA of influencing the Inspector General of Registration to freeze guideline value revisions along the PRR route since 2016, artificially suppressing official land prices to minimize compensation payouts.
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Inconsistent Government Stance Deepens Distrust
The farmers’ distrust is compounded by what they see as the government’s inconsistent stance. They point to a September 2024 order from the Urban Development Department that promised compensation under the 2013 Act, which was abruptly reversed just nine days later with a decision to revert to the 1894 law.
“Which law applies depends on what suits real estate interests,” alleged Sangha president Srinivas. “All three major parties—BJP, Congress, and JD(S)—are involved in this.”
The recent creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) adds another layer to the legal dispute. The farmers argue that this move reduces the BDA’s jurisdiction, making any fresh land acquisition subject to the 2013 Act and the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
Meeting with BDA Yields No Resolution
A meeting between farmer representatives and BDA officials held today concluded without any breakthrough. The farmers reported that the authority showed no willingness to address their primary concerns.
“The BDA is holding so-called consent award meetings but is unwilling to conduct a proper Social Impact Assessment or pay present market rates,” Srinivas Murthy stated after the meeting.
Farmers fear the eight-lane project—now referred to as the “Bengaluru Business Corridor”—will result in the demolition of hundreds of homes, disrupt 18 municipal wards, and displace over 14,000 families. They have unanimously resolved not to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs), which they believe are legally required for the project to proceed.
Key Demands and the Path Ahead
The memorandum to the Chief Minister outlines clear demands:
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Dropping the acquisition: Declare the 2007 notification lapsed and halt all proceedings.
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Clearing revenue records: Remove the BDA’s name from land records where compensation was never paid.
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Applying the 2013 Act: Ensure any future acquisition follows the LARR Act for fair compensation.
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Updating land values: Revise guideline values to reflect current market rates.
The state government has yet to issue an official response. While earlier discussions with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were held, farmers say his position shifted from initial sympathy to citing a Supreme Court ruling to deny compensation under the 2013 Act.
As the legal battle continues in the High Court, the farmers strike a note of principled opposition. “We understand Bengaluru’s traffic problems,” Srinivas said. “But that cannot come at the cost of our fundamental rights and livelihoods.” With their resolve firm, the fate of the long-delayed PRR hangs in the balance, caught between urban development goals and the rights of those who own the land it is meant to be built upon.
