18-Km Tunnel Road Project Between Hebbal And Silk Board To Be Completed In Three Years

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) aims to complete tunneling work for the 18-km tunnel road project connecting Hebbal and Silk Board junction in three years, officials have revealed.

Rodic Consultants, responsible for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore, recently submitted the report to BBMP.

According to BBMP officials, the DPR recommends deploying six tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the tunneling work.

Speaking to leading English daily IE, BBMP Chief Engineer BS Prahalad shared, "The DPR is nearly finalized, with only minor changes left. Meanwhile, Altinok consultancy has completed the traffic management plan. The completion timeline largely depends on the number and locations of the TBMs."

He further explained that, with six TBMs, the tunneling could cover 7.2 km annually, estimating the full 18 km to be completed in three years. However, an additional 12 months will be needed to finish roadworks and other necessary tasks. Prahalad also mentioned the time-consuming process of procuring and deploying the TBMs.

The tender for civic works is expected to be issued in January 2025.

S R Umashankar, BBMP Administrator and Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, expressed confidence in meeting the three-year deadline, citing the progress made by Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). "With technological advancements in tunneling, we are optimistic about finishing the project on time," he said. He also noted efforts to minimize private land acquisition, with most of the tunnel underground.

In August, the Karnataka Cabinet approved the 18-km twin-tube tunnel road, following Mumbai's model, in line with Indian Road Congress norms. The project will be executed using the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) method, and a public-private partnership (PPP) model with 40% viability gap funding (VGF) from the state government. If no bids are received, the project will be carried out under an engineering procurement contract (EPC), with toll revenue based on a hybrid annuity model (HAM).

This ambitious project, part of the Brand Bengaluru initiative, aims to connect the north-south corridor between Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction and Silk Board Junction. Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar is leading the project, which he claims will help reduce traffic congestion.

However, experts have raised concerns about the three-year timeline. Urban mobility expert Satya Arikutharam called the deadline unrealistic, criticizing the rushed DPR preparation. He questioned whether proper environmental and geotechnical studies were conducted and stressed the need for thorough reviews of tunnel projects. Prof Ashish Verma from IISc also criticized the project, calling it unnecessary, especially with the upcoming Metro line in the same corridor. He warned that flooding during heavy rains could pose a serious risk to the tunnel's safety.