Four major infrastructure companies, Adani Group, Dilip Buildcon, Vishwa Samudra Engineering, and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), have bid for Bengaluru’s ambitious 16.74-km tunnel road connecting Central Silk Board to Hebbal.
The strong response from major players has revived momentum for the Rs 17,800-crore project, even as it faces growing opposition from civic groups and several BJP leaders.
According to the officials, all four firms submitted bids before the November 11 deadline, which was extended four times by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), the agency leading the project, Deccan Herald reported.
RVNL has experience in tunnelling over 200 km in the Himalayan terrain for a broad-gauge railway line. Adani Group and Vishwa Samudra have undertaken large highway projects. Dilip Buildcon is a long-standing name in road construction.
Authorities said the strong participation indicates serious intent, especially as each bidder had to submit a Rs 44 crore bank guarantee to qualify.
Project structure and funding
The tunnel road will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with 40% funding from the government and the remaining 60% (about Rs 10,000 crore) from private firms.
The tender offers toll collection rights for 30 years, extendable by another ten, and includes six acres for commercial development. The government is expected to raise Rs 9,300 crore in loans to fund its share.
The project has been divided into two sections, one between Hebbal and Seshadri Road, and the other between Seshadri Road and Central Silk Board (Madiwala).
Design and focus on safety
The proposed tunnel will pass beneath central Bengaluru, aiming to ease congestion without disturbing surface-level activity. Engineers are now examining the city’s rocky terrain and soil composition to determine the safest alignment.
According to officials, the design will prioritise structural safety, protection of existing buildings, and environmental safeguards, balancing infrastructure growth with Bengaluru’s heritage and ecology.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has called it “a dream project for the youth of the city.” He said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the plan and shared suggestions.
Shivakumar questioned why tunnel projects in Pune and Mumbai face no opposition, while Bengaluru’s does. He also pointed out that Bengaluru’s rocky terrain earlier justified underground metro lines.
However, urban mobility experts and bodies like the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) have raised red flags, citing the absence of detailed traffic and geotechnical studies before work begins.
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