Bengaluru: Tenders to be floated soon for Tunnel Road phase 1

Following the recent cabinet approval for the tunnel road project, B-SMILE (Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited) will soon float a tender for phase 1 of the project, Deputy Chief Minister and Bangalore Development Minister D K Shivakumar announced on Saturday.

Shivakumar, who met Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials and officials from the police department, said that the tunnel road will have no exit points within a one-kilometre radius of Vidhana Soudha.

“Exit points in this area will cause traffic congestion. We want to ensure that there is no traffic congestion at the entry or exit points of the tunnel road. Hence, I held discussions with the DG & IGP and Joint Commissioner (Traffic) to get their views on it,” Shivakumar said.

In phase 1, the 16.745-km twin tunnel will run from Esteem Mall Junction in Hebbal up to Silk Board Junction.

The government is also planning 114 km of elevated corridor to decongest the city, and discussions are ongoing with the traffic police on the same.

TDR for road-widening projects

Many MLAs from Bengaluru, who met DK Shivakumar on Saturday, suggested a few road-widening projects. Shivakumar, who agreed to their requests, said that the government was ready to grant Transferable Development Rights (TDR) to acquire land for such road-widening projects. He also urged the MLAs to suggest areas where roads can be constructed in the buffer zone of Storm Water Drains (SWD).

‘Rs 10000 compensation for rain-related damages’ Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also announced that families affected by flooding owing to heavy pre-monsoon showers are eligible for compensation of Rs 10,000. He said that zonal officials were authorised to identify and take up emergency works in their jurisdiction to prevent problems due to heavy rains.