Chief Secretary-led committee to review tunnel bids in Bengaluru, says D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has constituted a high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to review bids received for the proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru, amid criticism and a political pushback.

Speaking about the project at the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said 20 firms had shown interest in the bidding process, but stressed that “small companies cannot execute a project of this scale”. He also clarified that the government cannot increase the viable gap funding under the BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) model.

His response comes to a question on the Adani Group securing the lowest bids in both packages of the 17-km tunnel road project covering Hebbal and Central Silk Board. 

The tunnel road forms part of a broader Rs 1.5 lakh crore infrastructure push that includes elevated corridors, double-decker road-cum-metro flyovers and flyovers aimed at easing congestion in the city.

“Time is money. Reaching office itself has become a problem,” he said, defending the project against critics. “Mumbai has seven tunnels. Delhi has sought our project report. Those opposing it lack administrative experience.”

He pointed out that land acquisition in core areas such as Sadashivnagar, where land prices touch Rs 50,000 per sq ft, makes conventional road widening nearly impossible. “We neither have the resources nor the feasibility to demolish such properties. That is why tunnel roads and double-decker corridors have been conceptualised,” he said.

Despite metro connectivity on MG Road, traffic congestion has not significantly reduced, he noted, underscoring the need for both public transport and private vehicle solitons. 

The minister said Bengaluru’s population and private vehicle numbers are almost at par, with nearly three lakh vehicles registered every month. An estimated 40–50 lakh people enter the city daily for work, with nearly 60% of families in Kanakapura, Magadi and Kolar dependent on Bengaluru for employment.

“Once people come to Bengaluru, they do not want to return to their hometowns,” he said, adding that the city remains India’s global face.

He maintained that Bengaluru is viewed internationally as a safe and investment-friendly city.

The presence of international schools and relatively affordable home ownership compared to other metros have helped attract Fortune 500 companies, he said.

The government is also developing a 136-km Bengaluru Business Corridor to support economic growth.

On civic issues, he said tenders for solid waste management have been reorganised into 33 packages to curb irregularities, claiming the “garbage mafia” had been dismantled. He also said commercial hoardings have been brought back to bring revenue to the corporations.  

Assuring residents on water supply, he said the city will not face a summer crisis this year. “Last year, half of the 14,000 borewells had dried up and tanker operations had become a mafia. We now operate government tankers at half the previous cost,” he said. He also reiterated that civic polls will be held by June-end.

Rahul Dravid speaks at the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit.