Road tunnel. (Image for representation)
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: Despite strong criticism, the state government has set in motion the process to construct the controversial tunnel road in Bengaluru.
On Tuesday, the newly formed Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B - SMILE) floated a global competitive tender for the design and construction of the six-lane twin-tube tunnel road between Silk Board Junction and Hebbal junctions.
As per the tender notification, the 16.745-km underground road is estimated to cost Rs 17,698 crore and will take 50 months to build, though such deadlines are often missed than met.
The work has been divided into two packages — Esteem Mall Junction (Hebbal) to Race Course Junction (Seshadri Road), and Seshadri Road to Silk Board Junction. This will allow two private companies to share the financial and construction responsibilities.
The project, primarily designed to serve car users, has faced strong criticism. Users will have to pay Rs 636 for a round trip.
The project is being taken up under what is known as a modified Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model.
While B-SMILE will bear 40% of the project cost, which comes to around Rs 7,079 crore, private companies are required to pay the rest (Rs 10,619 crore). In return, the government will give them toll collection rights for 30 years. B-SMILE plans to raise its share in the form of a loan from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).
If all goes as per its plan, B-SMILE will complete tendering formalities by September 2. The bidder quoting the lowest total concession value will bag the contract.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has been the key driver behind this project. He claimed it would skip 25 traffic junctions, reducing travel time by 45 minutes.
Not all are convinced with the project.
While the BJP called the project “costliest in India” and unaffordable for most residents, urban experts have also raised concerns. They argued that the tunnel road will soon be overwhelmed by private vehicles and questioned its long-term viability. Many have urged the government to instead invest in expanding the metro network, which can carry up to 25,000 passengers per hour per direction —compared to the tunnel road’s capacity of just 1,600 cars.