A 6.2-km road proposed under the 2015 Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) to ease congestion in east Bengaluru continues to remain incomplete, with forest department clearance identified as the primary bottleneck.
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Road length
6.2 km
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Width
140 ft
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Pending since
~2005
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Flats affected
15,000+
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What the Road Was Meant to Do
The 140-ft-wide link from Gunjur to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) via New Horizon College was designed as a key arterial route serving Varthur, Panathur, and surrounding areas. It was expected to ease pressure on State Highway 35, Balagere-Panathur Road, and Old Airport Road, while providing a direct ORR connection for Varthur and Gunjur residents. Both end stretches are complete — only the central 6-acre forest land segment remains blocked.
Why It’s Still Stuck
Forest clearance remains the central obstacle. Two compensatory land proposals — one near Anekal, another involving a bio-mining site in Mandur — were both rejected. Forest officials have raised concerns about biodiversity damage, reduced forest density, disrupted wildlife movement, and impact on groundwater recharge. The road would also cut through a 33-acre tree park under the Nagaravana scheme.
Multi-Agency Coordination Failures
Beyond forest clearance, progress has been slowed by coordination issues across GBA, KPTCL, and town planning. KPTCL has agreed to relocate its substation, but property acquisition and temple relocation remain pending. East corporation executive engineer Uday Chouguli noted that once forest land is cleared, the remaining processes can move forward.
Impact on Buyers and Residents
With the link missing, traffic is concentrated on a limited network of narrow roads, increasing commute times as housing supply grows without matching infrastructure. Residents in Panathur, Balagere, Varthur, and Gunjur report being limited to the congested S-Cross Road and Old Airport Road. A local survey estimates over 15,000 flats are occupied or nearing completion across these areas, with more projects underway.
Several residents have flagged that builders continue to market new projects in East Bangalore by citing the proposed CDP road as an upcoming connectivity advantage — even though its timeline remains uncertain. Some residents have sought a halt to new building permissions until the road is approved.
Buyers Being Misled on Infrastructure Timelines
Vivek, an IT employee in Panathur, noted that almost all builders showcase the CDP road in their project pitches. Residents point out that with poor existing infrastructure, pollution, and worsening traffic, the number of new launches and the prices being quoted are increasingly difficult to justify. If you are evaluating new launch projects in Bengaluru, it is important to independently verify ground-level connectivity before making a decision.
Advisory for Homebuyers: Buyers evaluating projects in Varthur, Panathur, Gunjur, or Balagere should verify current road infrastructure independently. The CDP road link has no confirmed completion timeline and should not be treated as an existing connectivity feature.
