Bengaluru’s Rs 42,000 Crore Tunnel Road Project Faces Technical And Environmental Questions As Tendering Begins

Bengaluru is set to move ahead with the 16.68 km tunnel road project between Central Silk Board and Hebbal, with tenders expected to be floated within days, reported The New Indian Express.

The Rs 42,000 crore project, to be executed by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), aims to ease traffic congestion by building a subterranean corridor 120 feet below ground.

B-SMILE Director BS Prahallad confirmed that the tender process will be launched in two packages, following state government approval on 9 June.

“The work is expected to be completed within four years. But everything depends on geological factors. Homes and other structures on the surface will be safe,” he said, adding that advanced tunnel boring machines will be used.

The toll has been pegged at Rs 19 per kilometre for cars, though it may be adjusted over time. Two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws are excluded from access.

However, the project has triggered sharp criticism and environmental concerns.

Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan posted on X, “Toll for cars on the tunnel may reach Rs 330. Autos and two-wheelers aren’t allowed. Rs 7,100 cr subsidy plus Rs 10,700 cr loans, all from public funds. Congestion at exits and rising pollution are inevitable.”

He further questioned, “If the project is so viable, why is private capital staying away?”

Geologists are also raising alarms about the potential impact on the city’s groundwater.

“Officials have agreed that the project will affect groundwater supply,” said Prof TJ Renuka Prasad, warning of possible tunnel instability and metro disruptions due to shifting underground water flows.

The cost includes Rs 800 crore earmarked for land acquisition, while questions over feasibility, financing, and environmental safety remain unanswered.

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