Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently announced that an approx. 2km-long tunnel road would be constructed at Hebbal junction to address traffic woes at one of the busiest junctions in Bengaluru.
The new tunnel road from Hebbal to veterinary college aims to ease congestion on Hebbal flyover and provide a direct link between Kempegowda International Airport and Mehkri Circle, Hindustan Times reported. According to Shivakumar, who also holds Bengaluru development portfolio, the tunnel road has been proposed specifically to decongest the Hebbal junction.
The deputy chief minister has also proposed tunnel road from Nagawara to Esteem Mall to agricultural university to ease traffic congestion in the areas. B.S. Prahalad, director (technical), at Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (BSMILE), told the Times of India that tunnel alignment has been planned in such a way to avoid land acquisition, by utilizing open spaces within the Veterinary College campus, and they will be restored after construction.
Also read
- Fortis Healthcare to buy Bengaluru’s People Tree Hospital for ₹430 crore
- Bengaluru man who kicked child in viral video mentally unsound? Thyagarajanagar horror explodes on internet
- Grieving wife donates Bengaluru man's eyes after he dies of heart attack on road awaiting help
- Nasscom Mobility Confluence 2025: From building vehicles to building intelligence
The proposed tunnel roads are distinct from the ambitious Hebbal-Central Silk Board twin-tube tunnel corridor, for which tenders were invited recently. The Karnataka government has invited global tenders for the over ₹17,000-crore project in the state capital, aimed at easing traffic movement in the IT city, often dubbed India's Silicon Valley. According to reports, India's top companies, including Adani Group, L&T Ltd, and Tata Projects have shown interest in the project.
However, according to an Indian Express report, the proposed tunnel corridor could lead to a spike in traffic jams in Bengaluru and add 16 new points of traffic congestion in the city. According to the report, the Detailed Project Report for the tunnel corridor does not provide any estimates for how much traffic it would absorb.