Bengaluru Twin Tunnel Project: Bids Invited For 16.7 km Route Underground Corridor

The Karnataka government's special purpose vehicle, Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), has floated a global tender for a ₹17,698 crore underground twin tunnel road project to address severe traffic congestion in the city. The proposed 16.7 km north-south corridor will stretch from Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board KSRP Junction, with multiple entry and exit ramps along the route.

As per a report by Moneycontrol, the project will be executed under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. It is divided into two key packages:

Package 1: Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to Race Course Junction (Seshadri Road), covering 8.748 km and costing ₹8,770 crore

Package 2: Race Course Junction to Silk Board, covering 7.997 km at ₹8,928 crore

Each package is expected to be completed within four years, with a total concession period of 34 years, including construction and operational phases.

Earnest Money Deposit and Bidding Details

Interested bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹44.64 crore. The government aims to attract global participation for this mega project, expected to significantly ease travel between northern and southern parts of Bengaluru.

Opposition, Criticism, and Political Reactions

Despite the grand scale, the tunnel project has drawn criticism. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the plan as "elitist and unscientific," claiming it prioritises wealthy commuters and neglects daily citizens. He further alleged irregularities in the project's feasibility report and DPR, saying parts were plagiarised from unrelated infrastructure reports and flagged the questionable credentials of the consultants involved.

Critics argue that the government should instead focus on expanding metro and suburban rail networks, which are seen as more sustainable and inclusive solutions for Bengaluru's growing population.