<p>Bengaluru: Ten of the country's leading construction firms, including the Adani Group, L&T Ltd, and Tata Projects have shown interest in building Bengaluru’s proposed 16.75-km tunnel road that will connect Central Silk Board to Hebbal. </p>.<p>On Monday, representatives from these companies attended a pre-bid meeting held at the headquarters of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE) in Vasanthnagar. The newly formed government entity had invited tenders to design and construct the three-lane underground twin tunnel road about 20 days ago. </p>.<p>Companies such as Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, ITD Cementation India, Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd, Jayashankar, Ceigall India Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, and IRB Infrastructure sent their representatives to the meeting as well. </p>.<p>But it remains to be seen as to how many will formally enter the race, which is being taken up under the modified build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. As per this plan, the companies are also expected to invest 60% of the project cost (Rs 10,619 crore), besides depositing Rs 44 crore at the time of submitting the bids. In return, the government will provide toll collection rights for 30 years. </p>.Despite backlash, Karnataka pushes Bengaluru's Rs 17,698-cr tunnel road.<p>During the meeting that lasted about one and a half hours, participants are said to have posed about 200 questions related to the project.</p>.<p>The project—estimated to cost Rs 17,698 crore—has been divided into two packages: Hebbal Junction to Seshadri Road Race Course Junction (8.74 km) and Seshadri Road to Silk Board (8.01 km). The last date to submit bids is September 2.</p>.<p>BS Prahallad, Technical Director at B-SMILE, expressed satisfaction over the response. “Top construction companies have sent their representatives," said Prahallad. "Some have requested us to extend the last date for bid submission given the complexity of the project. They also raised queries about land allocation for debris disposal and the casting yard. We are confident that many will participate in the final bidding,” he said.</p>.<p>During the meeting, BBMP Special Commissioner (Projects) Karee Gowda, consultants who prepared the detailed project report and financial advisors to the multi-crore project were also present. Sources said bidders sought more time, specifically to undertake geotechnical investigations along the proposed corridor.</p>.<p>As per the plan, construction companies are required to deploy a total of eight Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), each capable of drilling around 2 km per year. The three-lane underground twin tunnel road—which will have a total tunneling length of 33.49 km— has already come under environment, feasibility and technical scrutiny from different stakeholders. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Ten of the country's leading construction firms, including the Adani Group, L&T Ltd, and Tata Projects have shown interest in building Bengaluru’s proposed 16.75-km tunnel road that will connect Central Silk Board to Hebbal. </p>.<p>On Monday, representatives from these companies attended a pre-bid meeting held at the headquarters of Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE) in Vasanthnagar. The newly formed government entity had invited tenders to design and construct the three-lane underground twin tunnel road about 20 days ago. </p>.<p>Companies such as Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, ITD Cementation India, Vishwa Samudra Engineering Ltd, Jayashankar, Ceigall India Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, and IRB Infrastructure sent their representatives to the meeting as well. </p>.<p>But it remains to be seen as to how many will formally enter the race, which is being taken up under the modified build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. As per this plan, the companies are also expected to invest 60% of the project cost (Rs 10,619 crore), besides depositing Rs 44 crore at the time of submitting the bids. In return, the government will provide toll collection rights for 30 years. </p>.Despite backlash, Karnataka pushes Bengaluru's Rs 17,698-cr tunnel road.<p>During the meeting that lasted about one and a half hours, participants are said to have posed about 200 questions related to the project.</p>.<p>The project—estimated to cost Rs 17,698 crore—has been divided into two packages: Hebbal Junction to Seshadri Road Race Course Junction (8.74 km) and Seshadri Road to Silk Board (8.01 km). The last date to submit bids is September 2.</p>.<p>BS Prahallad, Technical Director at B-SMILE, expressed satisfaction over the response. “Top construction companies have sent their representatives," said Prahallad. "Some have requested us to extend the last date for bid submission given the complexity of the project. They also raised queries about land allocation for debris disposal and the casting yard. We are confident that many will participate in the final bidding,” he said.</p>.<p>During the meeting, BBMP Special Commissioner (Projects) Karee Gowda, consultants who prepared the detailed project report and financial advisors to the multi-crore project were also present. Sources said bidders sought more time, specifically to undertake geotechnical investigations along the proposed corridor.</p>.<p>As per the plan, construction companies are required to deploy a total of eight Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), each capable of drilling around 2 km per year. The three-lane underground twin tunnel road—which will have a total tunneling length of 33.49 km— has already come under environment, feasibility and technical scrutiny from different stakeholders. </p>