The Karnataka government’s special purpose vehicle, Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), has issued a global tender for an underground twin tunnel road project aimed at easing traffic congestion along Bengaluru’s north-south corridor. The project is estimated to cost Rs 177 billion, excluding GST.

The proposed twin tunnels will run from Hebbal’s Esteem Mall Junction to the busy Silk Board KSRP Junction, featuring multiple entry and exit ramps along the route.

According to a Money Control report, the project will be executed under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model and is divided into two packages, each expected to be completed within four years.

Package 1 covers the 8.75 km stretch from Hebbal’s Esteem Mall Junction to the Race Course Junction on Seshadri Road, with a cost of Rs 87.7 billion. Package 2 extends 8.0 km from Race Course Junction to Silk Board, costing Rs 89.3 billion.

Bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 446.4 million. The total concession period, including construction, will span 34 years.

Critics have urged the government to prioritise metro and suburban rail expansion over the tunnel project, raising concerns over costs and urban development priorities. Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya labelled the plan “elitist and unscientific”, arguing it favours wealthy commuters at the expense of everyday citizens.