Bengaluru’s Rs 17,698 crore tunnel road plan: Mega fix or mega gamble for a city choking on its own growth?

Bengaluru’s ambitious tunnel road project — pegged at Rs 17,698 crore — aims to become India’s costliest intra-city transport corridor. Stretching nearly 16.75 km, the fully underground expressway is designed to provide a high-speed, signal-free route between Silk Board Junction and Hebbal, easing the city’s notorious north–south traffic congestion. (AI Image)

Officials claim that once operational, the tunnel will reduce travel time by up to 45 minutes, bringing the Silk Board–Hebbal commute down from 60–90 minutes to just about 20–25 minutes. The corridor will bypass 25 major bottlenecks, offering Bengaluru’s daily commuters a smoother, faster drive through its busiest arterial stretch. (AI Image)

The project will use advanced tunnel boring machines (TBMs) similar to those deployed in metro rail projects. Plans include emergency exits every 500 metres, ventilation shafts, firefighting systems, and real-time monitoring units to ensure commuter safety within the deep-bore tunnels. (AI Image)

Urban planners and mobility experts remain split. Some see the tunnel as a game-changing fix that could free surface roads for pedestrians and buses. Others argue that such car-centric projects only encourage more vehicles, pushing the congestion problem deeper underground while ignoring sustainable transport planning. (AI Image)

To allay fears of environmental damage, officials insist that Lalbagh Botanical Garden will remain untouched. Only one acre of its land will be used temporarily during construction, primarily for machinery movement and site access. They’ve assured that no trees will be felled inside the heritage garden and the area will be restored post-completion. (AI Image)

While the project has received in-principle Cabinet approval, officials are still assessing the funding structure. A public-private partnership (PPP) model is being explored to attract global firms, with the government potentially providing viability gap funding. However, critics warn of cost overruns and long-term financial risks. ( AI Image)

Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka has slammed the project as unrealistic, asking how a government struggling to fix potholes can dig a city-wide tunnel. He claimed that 124 departmental approvals would be required, and said the project lacks a clear financial and environmental blueprint — calling it “a tunnel dream, not a plan.” (AI Image)

Engineers propose a two-level underground structure, with sections running as deep as 120 feet below ground. The design includes multiple entry and exit ramps at key junctions — including Dairy Circle, Richmond Town, and Mekhri Circle — to ensure uninterrupted flow and minimal disruption on surface roads. (AI Image)

Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, the project’s main proponent, says Bengaluru needs big, transformative infrastructure to match its global ambitions. He argues that the tunnel road is a “long-term mobility solution”, capable of handling future traffic growth and complementing ongoing metro, flyover, and suburban rail projects. (AI Image)

For a city gasping under its own growth, the Rs 17,698-crore tunnel plan represents both hope and risk. If executed with precision, it could redefine Bengaluru’s commute. But with environmental concerns, financial ambiguity, and political friction, the question remains — is it a mega fix for traffic chaos, or a mega gamble on the city’s future? (AI Image)