Bengaluru’s Twin Tunnel Road Project to Begin Ground Work by February, Open to Public by 2029

After three failed bidding attempts, Bengaluru's 16.75 km Tunnel Road Project (TRP) has finally attracted major corporate interest. The Bangalore Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-Smile) announced on Tuesday that the fourth round of bidding ended on a positive note, with top infrastructure giants among the firms submitting proposals for the ambitious ₹18,000-crore project.

Four Top Big Firms Join the Race

According to officials, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Adani Group, Vishwa Samudra Engineering, and Dilip Buildcon Limited have submitted bids for the multi-crore project. The proposed twin-tunnel corridor, estimated at ₹18,000 crore, will connect Esteem Mall Junction at Hebbal in North Bengaluru with Central Silk Board Junction in the south - one of the most congested stretches in the city.

If implemented, the project will provide a signal-free travel route across the city, easing pressure on major arterial roads like Hosur Road and Outer Ring Road.

The fresh round of bidding was initiated after three previous attempts failed to attract sufficient interest from large firms. B-SMILE floated global tenders in July 2025, dividing the project into two separate packages. The tender process faced several deadline extensions due to limited participation, with the final submission date pushed from September 3 to November 11, 2025.

Officials said all four firms submitted their proposals before the final deadline. The technical and financial evaluation process will begin shortly, with the qualified bidders list expected to be published within 15 days of November 13.

The lowest bidder will be announced by December 10, 2025, and the state government aims to sign agreements with the selected agency by January 2026. The ground-breaking ceremony for the tunnel project is expected in February 2026, said a senior B-SMILE official.

Tunnel Details and Construction Plan

The twin-tunnel system will be built under the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model, with a 34-year concession period, including a construction phase of 50 months (four years and two months). The project could become operational by late 2029, if executed as per schedule.

The corridor will be divided into two packages, each 8.748 km long:

• Package 1: Esteem Mall Junction to Seshadri Road-Race Course Junction (₹8,770 crore)
• Package 2: Seshadri Road to Silk Board Junction (₹8,928 crore)

Each section will feature two tunnels with three lanes each, along with dedicated entry and exit ramps at key points. At least eight Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will be deployed for construction.

Successful bidders must provide financial guarantees - ₹43.85 crore for Package 1 and ₹44.64 crore for Package 2.

Who Are the Bidders?

Each of the four companies brings different strengths to the table:

1. RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited): A government-owned PSU under the Ministry of Railways, expanding into highways and power infrastructure.
2. Adani Group: One of India's largest conglomerates with vast experience in transport, energy, and infrastructure projects.
3. Vishwa Samudra Engineering: Known for large-scale civil and marine infrastructure works.
4. Dilip Buildcon Limited: A major highway and tunnel project developer with expertise in fast-track construction.

While the project has faced criticism from urban planners and environmental activists, it has also received backing from senior engineers and government officials.

A group of retired civil engineers, led by M. Lakshmana, Secretary of the Institute of Engineers India (IEI), Karnataka State Centre, has publicly supported the project. "After reviewing the technical details, we believe the tunnel will reduce congestion and improve mobility across Bengaluru," Lakshmana said.

Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who is spearheading the initiative, has described the project as "a crucial step toward transforming Bengaluru's traffic infrastructure." He is expected to announce the selected agency once the evaluation process concludes.

However, several Public Interest Litigations (PILs) related to environmental and planning issues are pending before the High Court of Karnataka and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project has been one of the city's most contentious infrastructure proposals, debated for its feasibility, cost, and environmental implications. Despite this, the latest round of bidding marks a turning point.