Bengaluru’s ₹18,000-crore tunnel road project inches closer as four major firms submit bids

Bengaluru’s long-debated 16.74 km tunnel road connecting Hebbal and Silk Board edges closer to launch, with bids from top infrastructure players and state support.

Bengaluru’s ambitious and often controversial tunnel road project is finally gaining pace, with four major infrastructure companies submitting their bids to build it. According to reports, Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), the agency overseeing the project, has received proposals from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Adani Group, Vishwa Samudra Engineering, and Dilip Buildcon Limited.

The proposed 16.74-kilometre twin tunnel aims to connect Esteem Mall Junction in Hebbal to Central Silk Board Junction, offering a direct underground route through the city’s heavily congested north-south corridor. The project, backed strongly by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has also faced sharp opposition and multiple public interest litigations in the High Court over environmental and financial concerns.

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B-SMILE initially floated global tenders in July 2025, but the deadline was extended multiple times due to limited participation. The final bids were officially received on November 11, marking a key step forward for the much-delayed project.

Officials estimate that construction will take about 50 months (a little over four years), meaning the tunnel could be operational by late 2029 if progress continues smoothly. The project will follow a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model with a 34-year concession period, including construction time. Under this model, the selected developer will operate and maintain the tunnels before handing them over to the state government.

The tunnel has been divided into two equal sections:

•    Package 1: Esteem Mall to Seshadri Road-Race Course Junction (8.748 km)
•    Package 2: Seshadri Road to Silk Board (8.748 km)

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Each stretch will consist of two parallel tunnels with three lanes each, complete with entry and exit ramps. Construction will employ around eight tunnel boring machines, marking one of India’s largest urban tunneling efforts.

With an estimated cost of ₹18,000 crore, the project requires a financial guarantee of ₹44 crore per package from the winning bidder. Authorities hope the tunnel will provide much-needed relief to Bengaluru’s road network, cutting travel time between Hebbal and Silk Board and decongesting major arterial routes.