The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the construction of a tunnel road project in Bengaluru. Check which routes it will connect. Will it also save travel time? Check.
Bengaluru: Good news for the residents of Bengaluru, fondly known as the Silicon City of India, as the Karnataka Cabinet has given the green light for the construction of the first tunnel road project in Bengaluru. The project is expected to cost Rs 12,690 crore. Informing about the state cabinet’s decision, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said that the tendering process will begin soon. “The Cabinet has given administrative approval for the tunnel road project and the tendering process will begin soon,” he said.
Bengaluru Underground Tunnel: Connects Hebbal Flyover to Silk Board Junction
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has raised a lot of eyebrows by proposing an elaborate 18km twin tunnel from the Hebbal flyover to the Central Silk Board junction. Despite criticism, Shivakumar is sticking to his decision to go ahead with the project. The government believes that this tunnel would provide an important alternative route, while critics, particularly traffic experts, warn that it could only worsen traffic congestion in the city.
Bengaluru Underground Tunnel: How to Reduce Travel Time
The tunnel will connect Esteem Mall in the north at Hebbal and the Central Silk Board hub in the south. It is expected to drastically reduce the travel time between these places. Earlier, it took over an hour, but now it is expected to take only about 20-25 minutes. There will be five entry and exit points to ensure a smooth crossing.
Since Bengaluru does not have any geographical features like mountains or water bodies, there is no need to build tunnel roads to facilitate vehicular traffic.
Bengaluru Underground Tunnel Road: The Challenge
Some experts argue that Bengaluru’s traffic congestion is due to inefficient public transport and heavy dependence on private vehicles. According to them, building more roads will only encourage people to buy more cars, which will lead to even more traffic congestion. “The focus should be on moving people, not moving vehicles.” By building the tunnel, the political class is essentially encouraging the purchase of private vehicles, which means it will continue to look for ways to accommodate them,” an expert who has served on several advisory committees of the state government told TNM.
Critics point to significant challenges in organising the tunnel project and its potential environmental impacts. They highlight the lengthy construction phase, which could take up to 38 years, and the extensive deforestation necessary to widen the roads. There are also troubling concerns about land grabbing and engineering hazards such as recurrent flooding caused by Bengaluru’s natural topography.
