25-year traffic grid plan rolled out as Karnataka pushes big on infrastructure and ease of business

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar unveils a long-term urban roadmap with ring roads, tunnel roads and major reforms to tackle traffic, attract investors and future-proof Karnataka’s cities.

With traffic congestion worsening across major cities in Karnataka and concerns growing among investors, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday announced an ambitious 25-year urban transformation plan, anchored around a statewide Traffic Grid and a strong push to improve the ease of doing business.

Speaking about the need for long-term planning, Shivakumar recalled former Chief Minister SM Krishna’s vision of preparing Bengaluru for future growth. He said the state can no longer depend on short-term or piecemeal solutions. The proposed Traffic Grid, he clarified, will cover all urban areas across Karnataka, not just Bengaluru.

The plan includes ring roads for every major city, strategic road widening, and a legal framework to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with rapid urban expansion. He said delays seen in projects like the Peripheral Ring Road will not be repeated, adding that urban and rural development departments are now working together to avoid coordination failures.

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On infrastructure financing, the Deputy CM confirmed advanced talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund Bengaluru’s proposed tunnel road project, inspired by Zurich’s tunnel network. A study visit to Japan is planned to finalise advanced tunnelling technology.

Defending the proposed AI City at Bidadi, Shivakumar said development cannot be stalled when farmers are willingly offering land. He also described the Bengaluru Business Corridor compensation package as the best in the country.

Shivakumar said the government has earmarked ₹2.5 lakh crore over the next five years for Bengaluru’s infrastructure, including 123 km of elevated corridors and 300 km of buffer roads. However, he stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough and called for greater civic discipline, citing examples from Davos.

His remarks come amid growing frustration from IT companies and tech leaders, who have publicly warned that traffic jams, potholes and poor infrastructure are hurting productivity and raising costs, with some even considering relocation or demanding a return to work-from-home models.