BBMP's 18-km Underground Tunnel To Connect Hebbal To Central Silk Board In Record Time

Bengaluru, often dubbed India's Silicon Valley City, is set to tackle its infamous traffic jams with the upcoming construction of an 18-km-long underground tunnel road with five entry and exit points.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has initiated this project to alleviate the city's chronic traffic congestion, which worsens during monsoons and festive seasons due to inadequate infrastructure and public transport.

Estimated at a cost of approximately Rs 8,100 crore, or roughly Rs 450 crore per kilometre, the underground tunnel is slated for completion by January 1, 2025, according to BBMP sources.

The tunnel will stretch from Esteem Mall in Hebbal, north Bengaluru, to the Central Silk Board junction in the south. It will include multiple entry and exit points strategically placed across the city, promising seamless connectivity. This tunnel is expected to significantly reduce the current travel time between Hebbal and Central Silk Board from over an hour to just 20-25 minutes.

Key entry and exit points include the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) quarters at Central Silk Board, Lalbagh, Bangalore Golf Club, Palace Grounds, and adjacent government land near Esteem Mall in Hebbal.

The 10-meter-high tunnel will accommodate traffic speeds ranging from 40 kmph to 60 kmph. A user fee will be implemented for maintenance purposes, although the exact amount has yet to be determined.