The tender process is due shortly for Bengaluru’s massive 18km road tunnel project. The twin tube tunnel is expected to cost in the region of $1 billion to build, running North-South and linking the Esteem Mall in Hebbal with the Central Silk Board in the south of the city. The project will be carried out under the PPP model with the tunnel due for completion in 2030.
Construction of the tunnel is intended to reduce the city’s chronic traffic congestion problems, cutting the journey time from around one hour at present to around 20 minutes. The tunnel will feature five entry/exit points along the route and the project is being planned by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Junctions for the tunnel would be at the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) quarters at Central Silk Board, Lalbagh, Bangalore Golf Club, Palace Grounds and the Esteem Mall in Hebbal.
Insufficient transport infrastructure and public transport facilities are said to make Bengaluru’s traffic woes worse. However, the new tunnel would allow traffic speeds of 40-60km/h and would be 10m high. The tolls for drivers using the tunnel have yet to be determined. The funding structure for the project has also yet to be announced.
The twin tubes will feature three lanes apiece. The project will be built in two phases. Package 1 will be for the section from from Esteem Mall to Seshadri Road. Package 2 will be for the stretch from Seshadri Road to Silk Board junction.
The tunnelling work will be carried out with TBMs and is expected to take 26 months to complete. Carrying out the civils works and fitting out is expected to take a further 12 months. A detailed project report was compiled by Rodic Consultants Pvt.
