BBMP Seeks Loan for Twin Tunnel Road Project Funding

08 Jan 2025 CW Team

To raise the necessary funds for its share of the capital costs, BBMP has invited tenders to secure loans with lower interest rates. Several financial institutions, including nationalised banks and private agencies, have shown interest in funding the project. The bids will be opened on January 8, and BBMP is expected to choose the lender offering the most competitive interest rate. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 149.81 billion, with BBMP needing to arrange Rs 80 billion. The remaining amount will be contributed by the private contractor.

The twin tunnel road project will be carried out under the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model. The selected contractor will be allowed to collect toll fees for 20 years before transferring the infrastructure to BBMP. Based on the project estimates, toll charges are expected to range from Rs 18 to Rs 24 per kilometre. The plan also includes Rs 8 billion for land acquisition to build entry and exit ramps at various locations.

The 16.67 km-long twin tunnel will have three lanes in each tunnel, each 10.5 metres wide. Two lanes will be designated for ambulances, BMTC buses, and police vehicles. Originally, the cost per kilometre was estimated at Rs 5 billion, but the Detailed Project Report (DPR) revised the cost to Rs 8.98 billion per kilometre.

Currently, it takes approximately 90 minutes to travel the 16 km distance from Silk Board to Hebbal due to heavy traffic, with an average speed of 10–15 km/h. Once the tunnel road is operational, the same distance will be covered in just 20 minutes. The north-south corridor will include key entry and exit points, such as Esteem Mall in Hebbal, KSRP Junction at Silk Board, Mehkri Circle near Palace Grounds, Race Course Road, and Ashoka Pillar near Lalbagh. The tunnel will be constructed 120 feet underground, beneath the existing Namma Metro tunnels, to minimize disruption to surface infrastructure during construction.

BBMP plans to invite global tenders for the project by the end of the month. Upon completion, the infrastructure is expected to significantly improve Bengaluru's traffic dynamics by providing a faster and more efficient commuting option. BS Prahlad, the Chief Engineer at BBMP, expressed confidence in completing the project within the scheduled timeline, emphasizing that the twin tunnel road would play a crucial role in addressing the city’s traffic congestion.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is seeking funding from financial institutions to finance the construction of a twin tunnel road that will be located 120 feet below ground level. The first phase of the project involves building a north-south corridor tunnel road, extending from Esteem Mall Junction in Hebbal to KSRP Junction at Silk Board, under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The costs will be shared in a 60:40 ratio between the private contractor and BBMP. To raise the necessary funds for its share of the capital costs, BBMP has invited tenders to secure loans with lower interest rates. Several financial institutions, including nationalised banks and private agencies, have shown interest in funding the project. The bids will be opened on January 8, and BBMP is expected to choose the lender offering the most competitive interest rate. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 149.81 billion, with BBMP needing to arrange Rs 80 billion. The remaining amount will be contributed by the private contractor. The twin tunnel road project will be carried out under the Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) model. The selected contractor will be allowed to collect toll fees for 20 years before transferring the infrastructure to BBMP. Based on the project estimates, toll charges are expected to range from Rs 18 to Rs 24 per kilometre. The plan also includes Rs 8 billion for land acquisition to build entry and exit ramps at various locations. The 16.67 km-long twin tunnel will have three lanes in each tunnel, each 10.5 metres wide. Two lanes will be designated for ambulances, BMTC buses, and police vehicles. Originally, the cost per kilometre was estimated at Rs 5 billion, but the Detailed Project Report (DPR) revised the cost to Rs 8.98 billion per kilometre. Currently, it takes approximately 90 minutes to travel the 16 km distance from Silk Board to Hebbal due to heavy traffic, with an average speed of 10–15 km/h. Once the tunnel road is operational, the same distance will be covered in just 20 minutes. The north-south corridor will include key entry and exit points, such as Esteem Mall in Hebbal, KSRP Junction at Silk Board, Mehkri Circle near Palace Grounds, Race Course Road, and Ashoka Pillar near Lalbagh. The tunnel will be constructed 120 feet underground, beneath the existing Namma Metro tunnels, to minimize disruption to surface infrastructure during construction. BBMP plans to invite global tenders for the project by the end of the month. Upon completion, the infrastructure is expected to significantly improve Bengaluru's traffic dynamics by providing a faster and more efficient commuting option. BS Prahlad, the Chief Engineer at BBMP, expressed confidence in completing the project within the scheduled timeline, emphasizing that the twin tunnel road would play a crucial role in addressing the city’s traffic congestion.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Mar 2026

ABB to Invest Rs 6.25 Billion to Expand India Manufacturing

ABB recently announced plans to invest approximately Rs 6.25 billion ($75 million) in India during 2026 to expand its manufacturing footprint and research and development capabilities. The investment follows more than $35 million spent in 2025 and reflects the company’s continued focus on strengthening its ‘local-for-local’ strategy in the country.The investment will support ABB’s Electrification, Motion and Automation businesses and expand manufacturing capacity for infrastructure sectors such as renewable energy, metro rail, data centres and industrial applications. Approximately 300..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

Six WOLFF Cranes Handle 60,000 m³ Concrete for German Hospital

Six WOLFF tower cranes are playing a key role in constructing a new hospital complex in Memmingen, Germany, supporting large-scale material handling for the project. The facility is being built on a 7.7-hectare site and will feature six floors, around 480 beds and a gross floor area exceeding 75,000 sq m.Building shell works began recently in February 2025. One WOLFF 6531.12 Cross crane supported early site preparation before being dismantled in autumn 2025, while five remaining cranes continue operations. Over an average deployment period of 16 months, the cranes are expected to move approxim..

Equipment

10 Mar 2026

REC Funds Rs 115.6 Million CSR Support for Bihar Eye Hospital

REC recently committed Rs 115.6 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for the procurement of clinical and non-clinical equipment at Sankara Eye Hospital in Saharsa, Bihar. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised eye care services in the region.A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was recently signed between Pradeep Fellows, Executive Director (CSR), REC Limited, and Wg Cdr V. Shankar (Retd), Trustee and Executive Director of Sankara Eye Hospital, at the REC office in the SCOPE Complex, New Delhi.The support is expecte..