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To reduce heavy traffic on Bengaluru's roads, the Karnataka government has approved a major underground tunnel project. This new 16.5-km long twin-tunnel will run 125 feet below the ground and connect National Highway 7 (NH 7) with National Highway 14 (NH 14). The tunnel will begin at Esteem Mall near Hebbal and end at the Silk Board on Hosur Road.
Smooth Travel with Six-Lane Underground Road
The tunnel will have a six-lane road to help vehicles move faster and avoid the usual traffic jams above ground. There will be ramps for entering and exiting the tunnel at four important junctions - Mekhri Circle, Chalukya Circle, Lalbagh, and Silk Board Junction. These ramps are placed in busy areas to help spread traffic and reduce congestion across different parts of the city.
Project Model and Timeline
This tunnel will be built under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The tender for the project is expected to be released by the end of this month. The government hopes this project will bring major relief to the city's traffic problems. Along with this tunnel project, the government has also started work on a bigger traffic plan called the Bengaluru Urban Integrated Traffic Plan. A company has been hired to study the project in detail for a cost of Rs 5.54 crore. The detailed project report (DPR) is also being prepared, which will cost around Rs 9.45 crore.
Land Requirements and Funding
Even though most of the tunnel will be built underground, the project will still need land for the ramps and access points. According to an official from the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), over 45 acres of land will be needed for these parts of the tunnel. The estimated cost of this is Rs 3,000 crore. To fund the first phase of the project, BBMP is taking a loan from HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation) with an interest rate of 9 percent. Since the tunnel is deep underground, there will be less need for land, except at the major junctions.
Bengaluru is growing quickly, and traffic is one of its biggest problems. This twin-tunnel project is a big step towards solving it. It promises smoother and faster travel for people and will also improve the city's overall infrastructure. With strong planning and investment, the government is working to make Bengaluru a better place to live and travel.
