The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Friday published the final feasibility report of the comprehensive Bengaluru City Traffic Management Infrastructure Plan prepared by Altinoc Consulting Engineering. The report includes a detailed feasibility study of the proposed 170-km network of tunnels, double-decker routes, elevated corridors and underpasses to streamline mobility and decongest Bengaluru’s traffic.
The study proposes vehicle tunnels, grade separators, and road widening in selected corridors for traffic management and road infrastructure solutions. Under the plan, 16 elevated corridors and two tunnels have been proposed. The total length of elevated corridors/double decker/underpasses is 124.7 km. Meanwhile, the total length of the tunnels (north-south and east-west) is 46 km.
Some of the important elevated corridors proposed include Yesvanthapura-KR Puram (27 km), Shule Circle to Madiwala Junction (7.4 km), Marenahalli Main Road to Thalaghatpura NICE Road (10.5 km), Swami Vivekananda Metro Station-Madiwala (10 km), . Additional link road to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), corridor from Elevated Outer Ring Road-Hennur Main Road to Bagalur Junction (15 km) and Nagawara-Bagalur Main Road (15 km).
Meanwhile, the proposed double-decker corridor connects Hosahalli to Kadabagere (13 km) with Phase 3 Metro Line, and the double-decker corridor connects BEL Road and Yesvantpur railway station (2.2 km). Besides, 18 km tunnel route from Hebbal to Silk Board (North-South) and KR Puram to Nayandahalli (East-West, 28 km) is proposed.
According to the pre-feasibility report, the travel time of the north-south tunnel from Hebbal to Silk Board Junction is expected to be reduced from 90 minutes to just 20 minutes. The report also indicates that the North-South Tunnel Corridor faces encroachment at nine locations along the proposed alignment of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), along with the Bengaluru Suburban at two locations. There is a violation with the rail project. The total cost is estimated at around Rs 15,000 crore.
KR Puram-Nayandahalli Double Decker Tunnel
The report also highlighted the proposal for a double-decker tunnel connecting KR Puram and Nayandahalli – with three lanes on the lower deck and two lanes on the upper deck. The total length of the east-west corridor of the project is 28 km. The two-deck system consists of an upper deck connecting KR Puram to Nayandahalli Circle and a lower deck connecting Nayandahalli Circle to KR Puram.
The tunnel corridor also includes an important intersection at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden where the metro line, east-west and north-south tunnel corridors meet. The total cost of this tunnel corridor is around Rs 8,913 crore.
Environmental impact of tunnel and road infrastructure works
The report mentions that the tunnel corridor will reduce noise pollution, have minimal impact on the surface environment and cause minimal disruption to the ecosystem. It also highlights that construction of tunnels using tunnel boring machines is largely confined underground and has no such impact on daily life.
Regarding the maintenance, the report stated that although the maintenance of the tunnel is challenging, modern monitoring and maintenance technology can manage these tasks effectively.
The report also suggests that a review of environmental regulations indicates that road infrastructure projects require prior environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). However, it is mentioned in the report that permission should be obtained from the Forest Department to cut the trees along the proposed road of the project.
Additionally, it requires a no-objection certificate and consent under the Air Act, Water Act, EP Act, and Noise Rules from the Karnataka SPCB (State Pollution Control Board) for installation and operation. It is also mentioned that the contractor should prepare and approve an emergency action plan to deal with fuel and lubricant accidents before the construction starts.
However, many mobility experts have expressed displeasure with the tunnel proposal, saying it is antithetical to sustainable transport. On December 4, an online petition campaign by civic activists and urban planners urged the Karnataka government to reconsider its decision to implement two high-cost infrastructure projects – the Bengaluru Tunnel Road and the proposed Sky-Deck Tower. and environmental concerns. The Tunnel Road and Sky Deck protests are two ambitious projects of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar under the Brand Bengaluru initiative.
Katyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee of CIVIC Bangalore, who is leading the online campaign, argues that these projects primarily cater to the city’s 2.3 million private car owners, representing just 2.8 percent of Karnataka’s 70 million population. “It is unfair to spend Rs 16,500 crore to serve minorities when basic needs like healthcare, education, and water security are lacking,” she said.
Vishwanath S, director of Biome Environmental Solutions and a civil engineer, said: “The construction of the tunnel road will have far-reaching environmental impacts mainly due to groundwater depletion. Bengaluru is already grappling with water supply crisis and if all tunnel roads are constructed, groundwater depletion will be significant. Construction of the tunnel road will affect the aquifers that recharge the borewells and groundwater, thereby disrupting the overall groundwater supply.
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