The short tunnel from Hebbal junction to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) in Bengaluru will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, moving away from the earlier plan to implement the project under a hybrid model, according to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). 

Under the EPC mode, a single contractor will handle the project’s design, procurement, and construction. While tenders for the project have recently been finalised, the estimated construction cost alone has already risen by ₹53 crore. 

Officials said the project was shifted to the EPC mode for faster execution and as the government of Karnataka wants greater control over the project, unlike hybrid models where private players are involved in financing and long-term operations.  

“Under EPC, the government of Karnataka can fund the project directly. The mode also reduces delays linked to revenue-sharing, toll recovery, or financial closure,” the official said, adding that given the complexities involved in tunnelling work, the EPC model was considered administratively simpler and easier to execute. 

The construction was earlier estimated to cost ₹1,086 crore, but the figure has now increased to ₹1,139 crore, a senior BDA official overseeing the implementation said, while maintaining that the overall project cost would not balloon further. 

Recently, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced that Hyderabad-based Rithwik Projects Private Limited, which quoted ₹1,139 crore for the project, had emerged as the successful bidder.

Questions remain unanswered

However, both the BDA, which is spearheading the project to decongest traffic on Ballari Road, and BSMILE, the special purpose vehicle involved in planning the project, are yet to respond to the concerns raised by the State Finance Department. Sources from the Finance Department said that they will again write to the Urban Development Department, seeking a response on their concerns. 

The Finance Department had questioned how such an expensive project – described as a ‘quick fix’ by the B-SMILE — can be justified. To this, the SPV had argued that the short tunnel would serve as a quick fix to the proposed long tunnel project, and help decongest traffic on Ballari Road.  

The Finance Department suggested constructing a surface road, arguing that it could be completed faster and at nearly one-tenth the cost of the tunnel. The department has also raised objections over claims that the project would ease congestion, arguing that it may simply shift traffic bottlenecks elsewhere.

The BDA maintained that road widening is not possible on the stretch, and that the short tunnel would help decongest traffic up to the airport road. 

Officials said that the successful bidder has begun an alignment survey to determine the exact route and engineering configuration of the tunnel, including its entry and exit points, depth, land requirements, and possible impact on existing roads and nearby infrastructure, before construction begins. 

Published – May 26, 2026 09:10 am IST

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said a 190-km tunnel has been proposed to ease traffic congestion in the city and the state government will be inviting public tenders for it within 45 days. 

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha here, he said “A 190-km long tunnel road has been proposed to combat traffic congestion in Bengaluru and eight companies have qualified for it. These companies will submit a feasibility report and we are preparing to call for public tenders within 45 days.” 

These companies will study and report on how the tunnel road should be, whether it should be four or six lanes, from where it should begin and end, and a decision also needs to be taken on whether it should be expanded across the city, he said.

The deputy chief minister, who holds the Bengaluru City Development portfolio, said that since the project is of a very large scale and requires a huge amount of funding, it has to be done in several stages.

“We have proposed 190 km for now. Bellary Road, Old Madras Road, Esteem Mall Junction to Mekhri Circle, Miller Road, Chalukya Circle, Trinity Circle, Sarjapur Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road to Krishna Rao Park, Mysore Road to Sirsi Circle, Magadi Road, Tumakuru Road to Yeshwantpur Junction, Outer Ring Road, Goraguntepalya, KR Puram, Silk Board areas have been identified.

“We have selected these areas on priority basis. The companies are going to study where and how this tunnel road can be made,” he said.

He said Bengaluru needs at least a four-lane tunnel road.

Mr Shivakumar also said that, with the monsoon season ending, chief engineers have been given the responsibility to exert pressure on contractors to quickly complete the most important priority works, including drainage for rainwater flow.

Citing the huge traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru last week, Mr Shivakumar said he has discussed the issue with the officials concerned and the traffic police.

He will visit Outer Ring road on October 7.

He also said that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike engineers should work with the help of traffic police to address the issue of potholes. At the places indicated by the traffic police, BBMP should quickly fill potholes, so that they cause no accidents.

The public can also inform the BBMP Commissioner about the potholes, he said, adding, “When it rains, it is normal to get potholes. Such roadblocks will be repaired immediately in important areas of the city,” he added.

When asked whether the state would seek the Centre’s help in easing Bengaluru’s road congestion, he said, “Of course we will seek help from the Centre. Once these proposals are submitted, we will submit the proposal to the Centre.

“I have already met and discussed with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Vehicles arrive in Bengaluru through the National Highway and cause traffic congestion… I have discussed this matter with him. He also gave me advice and responded positively,” the deputy chief minister said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)