+
Karnataka Laws Raise Questions Over Bengaluru Tunnel Road
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Karnataka Laws Raise Questions Over Bengaluru Tunnel Road

The 16.75 kilometre north-south tunnel road project in Bengaluru proposes twin tunnel tubes linking Hebbal and Silk Board junctions. It is planned in two packages covering the Esteem Mall to Hebbal-Seshadri Road stretch and the Seshadri Road to St John’s Hospital, Madiwala stretch.

Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd opened bids under a special purpose vehicle set up by the state government, with the Adani Group emerging as the lowest bidder at Rs 222.67 billion (bn) against government estimates of Rs 176.98 billion (bn). For the first package the Adani Group bid Rs 108.67 bn against the government's estimate of Rs 87.7 bn, while in the second package the bid was Rs 114 bn against the estimate of Rs 89.28 bn. The bid for the first package was about 24 per cent higher and for the second about 28 per cent higher than estimates.

The project is structured under a build-operate-transfer model that envisages 40 per cent government funding with the remaining investment from private concessionaires. The bids were invited when D K Shivakumar was deputy chief minister with responsibility for Bengaluru's development between May 2023 and May 2026, and he had said the project would ease traffic in central areas. On the gap between bids and estimates he had argued that the government would not pay money to the bidder and that the bidder would invest while the state provided only 40 per cent of its estimate.

The passage of two related bills a day after Gautam Adani met the minister has added to controversy, and the chief minister's office described the encounter as a courtesy visit. The home minister said the meeting related to the Adani Group's role as a government contractor and was not inappropriate, and he noted that the group already operates projects in the state including an ACC cement facility at Chittapur and the Mangalore Airport. The timing of the legislation and the meeting has fuelled scrutiny of the procurement and governance arrangements.

The 16.75 kilometre north-south tunnel road project in Bengaluru proposes twin tunnel tubes linking Hebbal and Silk Board junctions. It is planned in two packages covering the Esteem Mall to Hebbal-Seshadri Road stretch and the Seshadri Road to St John’s Hospital, Madiwala stretch. Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd opened bids under a special purpose vehicle set up by the state government, with the Adani Group emerging as the lowest bidder at Rs 222.67 billion (bn) against government estimates of Rs 176.98 billion (bn). For the first package the Adani Group bid Rs 108.67 bn against the government's estimate of Rs 87.7 bn, while in the second package the bid was Rs 114 bn against the estimate of Rs 89.28 bn. The bid for the first package was about 24 per cent higher and for the second about 28 per cent higher than estimates. The project is structured under a build-operate-transfer model that envisages 40 per cent government funding with the remaining investment from private concessionaires. The bids were invited when D K Shivakumar was deputy chief minister with responsibility for Bengaluru's development between May 2023 and May 2026, and he had said the project would ease traffic in central areas. On the gap between bids and estimates he had argued that the government would not pay money to the bidder and that the bidder would invest while the state provided only 40 per cent of its estimate. The passage of two related bills a day after Gautam Adani met the minister has added to controversy, and the chief minister's office described the encounter as a courtesy visit. The home minister said the meeting related to the Adani Group's role as a government contractor and was not inappropriate, and he noted that the group already operates projects in the state including an ACC cement facility at Chittapur and the Mangalore Airport. The timing of the legislation and the meeting has fuelled scrutiny of the procurement and governance arrangements.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

MMRDA Targets Completion of Projects by December 2028

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is targeting the completion of all its ongoing infrastructure projects by December 2028, a year ahead of its December 2029 deadline, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee has said.Speaking at the sixth edition of the Real Estate & Infrastructure Investors' Summit (REIIS) 2026 in Mumbai, Mukherjee said the authority was developing an integrated network of roads, tunnels, sea links and Metro corridors under its broader vision of “Mumbai in 59 Minutes”.The objective is to improve east-west and north-south connectivity an..

Next Story
Building Material

High-Performance Façades Gain Ground in Indian Buildings

High-performance façades are gaining greater importance in Indian architecture as developers and architects increasingly focus on energy efficiency, thermal comfort and building performance, according to Shankar Fenestrations & Glasses.The company said modern façade systems are increasingly being considered as part of a building's overall performance strategy rather than being used primarily as aesthetic elements.High-performance glass, curtain wall systems and structural glazing can contribute to thermal regulation, solar control, daylight management and indoor comfort. Their growing ad..

Next Story
Technology

SPML Infra's 104.4 kWh BESS Battery Pack Clears Global Tests

SPML Infra has announced that its proprietary 104.4 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) battery pack has completed key international safety, performance and transportation testing and certification requirements, marking a step towards its commercial deployment.Developed under the company's own intellectual property, the battery pack has completed requirements under UL9540A, IEC 62619, IEC 63056, IEC 60730, IEC 61000-6-2, IEC 61000-6-4 and UN38.3 standards.The testing covers areas including thermal runaway safety, battery performance, system functional safety, electromagnetic compatibility..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code