Hebbal to Silk Board, KR Puram to Mysore Road: Bengaluru's 40-km Tunnel Road DPR Finalised, Costs Detailed

Bengaluru's traffic congestion may soon see a improvement with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) planning an ambitious 40-km tunnel road project. Designed to ease the city's notorious traffic gridlock, the project features two major corridors connecting key parts of Bengaluru.

Twin Tunnel Corridors: North-South and East-West Connectivity

The proposed tunnel road network includes:

18-km North-South Corridor: This stretch will link Hebbal Flyover in the north to Silk Board Junction in the south, serving as a critical passage through the city's high-traffic zones.

22-km East-West Corridor: The east-west section will connect KR Puram in the east to Mysore Road in the west, providing smoother connectivity across Bengaluru.

Cost and Funding Plans

To implement this large-scale project, BBMP plans to raise ₹19,000 crore through loans from the open market. The state government has agreed to act as a guarantor for the loan, ensuring financial support for the ambitious initiative. This decision follows a similar move where the government backed a ₹27,000 crore loan for the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project, aimed at improving Bengaluru's outer connectivity.

Feasibility and Phased Execution

According to feasibility studies, constructing single-tube tunnels could be more cost-effective than twin-tube alternatives. However, BBMP is moving forward with a twin-tube design to accommodate the city's growing vehicular load.

The project will roll out in two phases:

Phase 1: Hebbal to Silk Board (North-South Corridor)

Estimated cost: ₹16,500 crore (excluding land acquisition)

BBMP plans to allocate ₹6,500 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF), while private investors are expected to contribute the remainder.

Phase 2: KR Puram to Nayandahalli (East-West Corridor)

This 28-km stretch is estimated to cost around ₹25,000 crore.

BBMP is yet to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for this phase.

While the BBMP has finalized the DPR for the North-South corridor, the project has faced criticism from activists and environmental experts. Concerns have been raised about its potential impact on Bengaluru's already stressed environmental and hydrological systems.

The tunnel road project is being viewed as a game-changer for Bengaluru's urban transport network. If successfully implemented, it could significantly reduce traffic congestion and provide faster routes for commuters. The BBMP also hinted at utilizing private investments to fund additional underground road infrastructure, including a separate stretch between KR Puram and Nayandahalli.

With the state government backing the financing plan, all eyes are now on the BBMP's ability to execute this ambitious project without compromising Bengaluru's ecological balance. As work progresses, the tunnel roads are expected to reshape the city's traffic flow and offer much-needed relief to residents.