BENGALURU: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will lay the foundation stone for the controversial Tunnel Road project on Sunday. The big-ticket project, which is projected as the panacea for Bengaluru’s traffic congestion, will connect Hebbal with Silk Board and is expected to cost over Rs 17,000 crore.
The foundation stone programme is planned amidst wide opposition to the CM’s pet project. Shivakumar will hold ‘bhoomi pooja’ for the short tunnel between Hebbal junction and the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) at Rs 1,139 crore.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Transport Minister and Hebbal MLA Byrathi Suresh said that the 2.18 km short tunnel will ease traffic on the stretch between Mekhri Circle and Hebbal Junction. The announcement comes days after a private agency bagged the tender to build the tunnel and conducted the soil testing near the UAS quarters and surroundings.
“Due to traffic snarls on the Hebbal stretch, it was difficult to go to other places, including the airport. The government has decided to build a tunnel road to solve this pressing issue,” said Suresh.
As there could be an issue of delay and excuses from the agency that has bagged the tender, the Minister stressed that the contractors have been instructed to complete the work strictly within the stipulated time frame.
“Opposition parties are opposing just for the sake of it. This project is being implemented for the benefit of lakhs of people,” he said.
The total stretch of the short tunnel is 2.228 kilometres, connecting Hebbal Junction to UAS staff quarters.
The tunnel will be about 60 feet below the surface and will come with a 6-lane road feature. Each lane will be 3.5 meters wide.
Tunnel Road work to be completed in 18 months
According to the reports, the project is being implemented at a total estimated cost of Rs 1,139 crore, and a deadline of 18 months has been fixed for completion. The minister stated that, unlike many public projects that require private land, for this short tunnel, ‘no private land acquisition’ will be required.
“Petrol and diesel prices are increasing day by day. All transport corporations are losing about Rs 5,000 crore,” said Suresh and added, in this context, consideration were given to increasing bus fares. The minister said that there have been discussions to increase the fare in a way that does not burden the common people.
