Rodic Consultants to prepare DPR for Bengaluru's first tunnel road; to submit report in two months

Deputy chief minister and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar has been pushing for the construction of tunnel roads, a move experts say could potentially incentivise the use of private vehicles in a city that is already crippled by traffic jams.

New Delhi-based Rodic Consultants Private Limited will prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for an 18-km tunnel road connecting Hebbal and Central Silk Board, Moneycontrol has learnt.

Sources at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city's civic body, told Moneycontrol that they issued a letter of acceptance  to Rodic Consultants on July 25, for Rs 9.4 crore (including GST or goods and services tax). According to the tender conditions, the selected firm will have to submit the report within two months.

Moneycontrol learnt that six firms—Rodic Consultants, Turkiye-based Altinok Consulting Engineering Inc., IBI Group India Private Limited, Boston Consulting Group India Private Limited, Systra MVA Consulting India Private Limited and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd.—participated in the pre-bid meeting. However, only two, Rodic Consultants and Altinok Consulting, submitted bids.

Also read: Bengaluru's traffic conundrum: Metro rail to the outskirts, suburban rail confined to city limits, and tunnel vision

Sources said BBMP has already engaged Altinok Consulting for a feasibility study along the same corridor, for Rs 4.7 crore.

"The consultant will also help us to find out the estimated cost, and also recommend whether to pursue government funding or a public-private partnership model for the tunnel roads project. Our rough estimate for the 18 km stretch is around Rs 8,000 crore. The study will also identify the number of lanes required. The tunnel roads will run beneath the proposed metro line between Sarjapur and Hebbal, so there will be no impact on the metro project," said a BBMP official.

Also read: Bengaluru Metro to extend to Tumakuru and Devanahalli; tunnel road in Hebbal announced

North-South corridor

The firm will prepare a DPR for an 18 km underground vehicular tunnel for the north-south corridor, starting from Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to the Silk Board KSRP Junction. The project includes four connecting stretches with entry and exit points. The stretches are: Esteem Mall-Hebbal-Mekhri Circle-Palace Grounds (5.7 km), Palace Grounds-Golf Course-Race Course-Palace Road (2.8 km), Race Course/Chalukya Circle-Lalbagh (4.1 km) and Lalbagh-Silk Board KSRP Junction (5.6 km).

“The consultant will also assist with public hearings and the EIA (environmental impact assessment) of the project. If the EIA report cannot be completed within the original timeframe, it may be submitted within six weeks after the project report,” the tender document said.

The consultant will carry out traffic and infrastructure surveys to enhance safety and operational efficiency, and minimise environmental and local impacts. Services will include traffic surveys, toll collection and plaza designs, detailed planning, social and environmental impact assessments, and preparation of a request for proposal, it said.

The key tasks of the consultant include analysing traffic demand over 10- 25 years and proposing solutions for elevated or tunnel corridors. The study will also evaluate existing and alternative routes, conduct citywide traffic analysis, and provide detailed traffic and feasibility reports, it said.

Data collection will include traffic count, vehicle usage surveys and pedestrian assessments at major junctions. The consultant will offer two or three alternatives for improving traffic flow, including elevated roads, tunnels and interchanges, with phased implementation plans and detailed cost estimates, it added.

DK’s pet project

Deputy chief minister and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar has been pushing for the construction of tunnel roads, a move experts say could potentially incentivise the use of private vehicles in a city that is already crippled by traffic jams.

Shivakumar had proposed the construction of 190 km of tunnel roads on the east-west and north-south corridors across the city. However, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) opposed this proposal and suggested a fully underground metro rail system instead. "The Inner Ring Metro line is proposed along the city's congested corridor, providing extended coverage for the central part of the city. Every location where the Inner Ring Metro line intersects with other Metro lines will have an interchange, facilitating seamless journeys for commuters," the IISc report said.

Also read: Bengaluru traffic: IISc bats for Inner Ring underground Metro over DKS’ tunnel road plan