Bengaluru To Get Rs 8,100 Crore Tunnel Road Linking Hebbal To Silk Board

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has unveiled plans for an 18-kilometre-long underground tunnel road aimed at easing Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion.

Estimated at a cost of Rs 8,100 crore, the project is expected to be completed by January 2025.

The tunnel will link Esteem Mall in Hebbal in the north to the Central Silk Board junction in the south, featuring five strategically placed entry and exit points.

These points include the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) quarters at Central Silk Board, Lalbagh, Bangalore Golf Club, Palace Grounds, and vacant government land adjacent to Esteem Mall in Hebbal.

Currently, commuting between Hebbal and Central Silk Board takes over an hour, but the new tunnel is projected to reduce this time to just 20-25 minutes.

Bengaluru's severe traffic problems stem from its rapidly expanding population. The 18-kilometre tunnel will be 10 metres high, allowing traffic to flow at speeds between 40 kmph to 60 kmph, with minimal tree felling required at some interchange lanes.

BBMP Chief Engineer B S Prahalad stated "according to our feasibility report, there are 15 congestion points between Hebbal Esteem Mall and Central Silk Board junction that diagonally cut through the city. To address this, the best alternative is a tunnel road."

"An elevated corridor could have been another option," Prahalad noted, "but that would involve significantly more tree felling, land acquisition, and most importantly, traffic disruption for the next 3–4 years."

The tunnel will have a user fee for maintenance, though the exact amount has not yet been determined. Prahalad emphasised, "The most economical, long-lasting, and scientifically proven solution is the construction of the tunnel road," reports Deccan Herald.

This initiative follows a previously proposed steel flyover between Hebbal and Basaveshwara Circle during Siddaramaiah’s first term as chief minister, which was abandoned due to substantial public opposition over environmental concerns.