The Congress-led Karnataka government is preparing to float tenders for the ambitious tunnel road project in Bengaluru. On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees Water Resources, Bengaluru Development, and Town Planning, confirmed the state’s intent to move forward with the proposal.

“We have to start the tunnel road project, and we are inviting tenders. We require land currently owned by the military and other organisations in Bengaluru,” said Shivakumar. “We’ve submitted a land request to the military and are also working on acquiring properties owned by private individuals and the metro. Discussions will be held to determine exact requirements,” he added. Shivakumar is also the in-charge Minister for Bengaluru Urban District.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has allocated Rs 420 billion for the tunnel road infrastructure. Of this, Rs 177.8 billion will be used to construct tunnels along National Highway 7 (NH-7) — from Hebbal to Hosur Road via the Silk Board junction, which remains a significant bottleneck in the city’s IT corridor.

A detailed project report is currently being prepared. The state government has extended a project guarantee of Rs 190 billion. Plans include a 60-kilometre urban tunnel linking East–West and North–South corridors of Bengaluru, aimed at easing congestion by connecting key arterial routes and diverting surface traffic underground — preserving surface aesthetics and urban space.

As the proposed tunnel is intended to link NH-7 with NH-14, the state has suggested the project be implemented in partnership with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Shivakumar has requested Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allocate budgetary support for both the Karnataka government and NHAI in the Union Budget.

Separately, when questioned about the opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s reported comments on Lord Ram, Shivakumar said he had not heard the statement and would comment after reviewing the context.

On his visit to the Mandya and Ramanagara districts, Shivakumar noted the urgent need for drinking water in Channarayapatna. “This project has been pending, and we must assess its status,” he stated.