UDD questions Hebbal short tunnel’s ₹2,215cr cost, warns of impact on Silk Board corridor; KVAFSU allows only if campus remains unaffected

The Karnataka Urban Development Department (UDD) has raised serious concerns over the proposed 2.2‑km 'short tunnel' connecting Hebbal to the Veterinary College campus on Ballari Road. In a letter to B‑SMILE and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the department flagged the project as costly and questioned its feasibility, design, and impact on other transport initiatives.

Originally conceived by B‑SMILE using the cut‑and‑cover method and later handed to BDA for execution, the tunnel is now under close review. Officials argue that a conventional surface road could deliver similar traffic benefits at nearly one‑tenth the cost. The finance department has already expressed doubts about the project’s economic viability, warning that it could undermine the larger 17‑km Hebbal–Central Silk Board tunnel, which is currently under tender.

The UDD also highlighted integration issues. The short tunnel, it noted, alters the scope of the North–South Tunnel corridor by modifying or removing ramps at Mehkri Circle. Since the Hebbal tunnel is not planned as a tolled facility, officials fear it could divert significant traffic away from the longer corridor, affecting revenue and contractual commitments.

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Financial concerns loom large as well. The short tunnel’s estimated cost of ₹2,215 crore would place a heavy burden on BDA, which is already relying on raising ₹10,000 crore through asset monetisation by March 2026—a plan seen as risky and vulnerable to market delays. The department further pointed out the absence of an independent feasibility study to validate the project.

Transport planning has also come under criticism. The proposal is seen as catering primarily to private vehicles, with little integration into high‑capacity public transport systems. Officials warn that such infrastructure, without parallel investment in public transit, tends to encourage more car trips and simply shifts congestion elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) has firmly opposed any surface or elevated road through its Hebbal campus, citing disruption to labs, livestock units, and research facilities. The university stated it would only consider a tunnel if it has zero impact on campus operations and is backed by a detailed technical assessment from independent experts.

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