After a two-year hiatus, Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) is set to reintroduce Bus Priority Lanes (BPL) by the end of 2025. The initiative, which was originally paused due to metro construction, aims to improve public transport efficiency along one of the city’s most congested corridors.
The 17-kilometre stretch between KR Puram and Silk Board Junction—crucial for Bengaluru’s IT workforce—will be the first to see the revival. According to Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Managing Director Ramachandran R, plans are underway in coordination with BMRCL, BBMP, DULT, and the Bengaluru Traffic Police.
“We’ve written to all key stakeholders and will soon finalise the route plan,” Ramachandran stated. “The road layout has changed due to metro construction, so we are redesigning the BPL framework accordingly.” The previous BPL system was discontinued in 2022 as metro construction under Phase 2A consumed road space, forcing other vehicles to encroach into the dedicated lanes. Fibre-reinforced bollards marking the lanes were also damaged.
Now, with the majority of metro work complete—barring three stations—officials believe it’s the right time to relaunch. Once operational, the BPL is expected to reduce bus commute times by at least 20 minutes, encouraging more citizens to opt for public transport. BMTC is also planning to expand BPL corridors to other high-density routes across Bengaluru. A fresh survey of traffic patterns will be conducted to update data and support the network expansion, reinforcing the city’s commitment to sustainable mobility.
