BIAL Plans Connectivity Tunnel To Ease Airport Access, Will Cut Commute Time By 30 Minutes From Whitefield

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is planning to build an Eastern Connectivity Tunnel to link Bengaluru's eastern regions to the airport.

This project aims to improve accessibility for passengers travelling from areas such as Mahadevapura, Sarjapur, and Whitefield.

Photo Credit: PTI

The Eastern Connectivity Tunnel is a central element of BIAL's Rs 16,500 crore infrastructure expansion plan, designed to support Bengaluru's rapidly growing aviation sector, reported the Indian Express.

The expansion will also include two new metro stations on the airport campus, the extension of taxiways, new aircraft parking stands, upgraded parking infrastructure, and the completion of Phase 2 of Terminal 2 to meet rising passenger and cargo demands.

Currently, the airport is mainly accessed via the western entrance through Hebbal on the national highway. The new tunnel will provide an alternate route from the eastern state highway, cutting travel time by roughly 30 minutes for commuters from Whitefield. It will also help alleviate congestion on the heavily used Hebbal flyover by diverting about 30% of airport-bound traffic.

This project comes alongside other developments, including a 18km tunnel road linking Silk Board junction to Hebbal, being planned by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) constructing the Blue Line, connecting Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) to Central Silk Board, which is expected to open in 2026.

"The eastern tunnel will save driving time for passengers from Whitefield and divert a significant portion of traffic from Hebbal, easing congestion on city roads. The project will not only improve airport accessibility but will also enhance traffic flow across Bengaluru," said Hari Marar, CEO of BIAL, during a podcast show *From Code to Culture*, hosted by journalist Malini Goyal.

Marar explained that the tunnel will link the eastern state highway directly to the airport terminal, passing beneath the aircraft parking bays. This innovative design will allow smooth access to the terminal without disrupting airport operations. "Construction is set to begin this year, with completion expected within three years," Marar added.

Currently, travellers from Whitefield and other eastern parts of Bengaluru also use the Airport Link Road via Bagalur and Begur, which is plagued by potholes and poor lighting. This road has become notorious among motorists, especially around Hennur junction, Kothanur, K Narayanapura, and Bagalur junction. It takes Whitefield residents around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the airport via Hebbal, and 1 hour 15 minutes via Bagalur.

Meanwhile, to ease congestion on Airport Road via Hebbal, Revenue Minister and Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byre Gowda, along with NHAI and Bengaluru traffic police officials, has revealed plans to widen the road and build a service road from Hebbal flyover to Military land, as well as expand the Hebbal stormwater drain bridge. There are also plans for a flyover at Sadahalli junction to tackle peak-hour traffic.

For long-term solutions, underpasses are proposed at Kodigehalli, Byatarayanapura, and Jakkur junctions to ensure smooth traffic flow at these critical intersections.

BIAL is also preparing to construct Terminal 3 (T3) to accommodate the rapid increase in passenger traffic. Projections indicate that the airport will reach its full operational capacity of 85 million passengers annually across Terminals 1 and 2 by 2030-32, requiring expansion.

Currently, KIA operates with two runways and two terminals, with a capacity to handle up to 100 million passengers. However, the combined terminal capacity will soon be exceeded. Terminal 3 is expected to add an additional 25-30 million passengers annually.

Construction of Terminal 3 will begin once the capacity of Terminals 1 and 2 reaches 70 million passengers. When KIA began operations in 2008, the master plan anticipated passenger traffic would reach 40 million by 2068, but the airport reached this milestone within 16 years, recording over 37.5 million passengers in its 16th year. At this pace, KIA is expected to reach 100 million passengers annually by 2033-35, well before the concession period ends. Authorities warn that delays in building Terminal 3 could result in bottlenecks, as the airport's infrastructure will struggle to handle the increasing traffic.