Bengaluru Floats Rs 177 Billion Tender for Tunnel Road

17 Jul 2025 CW Team

Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), a special purpose vehicle of the Karnataka government, has floated a global tender for an ambitious underground twin tunnel road project aimed at decongesting the city’s north-south corridor.

The project, to be developed on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model, has been divided into two packages with an estimated total cost of Rs 177 billion (excluding GST). Construction for each package is expected to take 4 years and 2 months.

The proposed project involves designing, constructing, and maintaining a three-lane twin tunnel road between Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction and Silk Board KSRP Junction. It will include multiple two- and three-lane entry and exit ramps.

Package 1, from Hebbal to Race Course Junction (Seshadri Road), covers 8.748 km at an estimated cost of Rs 87.7 billion. Package 2, from Race Course to Silk Board (8.748 km to 16.745 km), is valued at Rs 89.28 billion. An Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs 446.4 million is required. The total concession period is 34 years, inclusive of the 50-month construction period.

The tender is set to open in September. Bidders must be registered with the BBMP or equivalent authorities like CPWD, KPWD, Indian Railways, MES, or National Highways.

Despite criticism, the Congress-led state government is moving forward. Transport experts have argued the funds would be better spent expanding Metro, suburban rail, and bus networks.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya criticised the project as "elitist and unscientific," alleging irregularities in its Rs 950 million Detailed Project Report (DPR), which he claimed copied content from a BMRCL report and referenced cities like Malegaon and Nashik while analysing Bengaluru traffic.

Surya also questioned the credibility of consultants involved, alleging past blacklisting and scams. He said the project lacks mandatory clearance under Section 19 of the BMLTA Act from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority.

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