Hebbal six-lane tunnel project attracts four bidders; ₹1,086-crore plan aims to ease Bengaluru’s worst traffic bottleneck

BDA receives strong response for 2.18-km short tunnel road project at Hebbal, targeting faster traffic flow at one of the city’s busiest junctions, despite concerns over long-term impact.

In a major step towards tackling Bengaluru’s chronic traffic congestion, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has received bids from four leading infrastructure companies for the construction of a six-lane short tunnel road at Hebbal. The ambitious project, estimated at ₹1,086 crore, is designed to ease vehicle pressure at one of the city’s most congested junctions.

Sources confirmed that Dilip Buildcon Limited (DBL), Max Infra (India) Ltd, Cemindia Projects and Rithwik Projects have participated in the tender process. All four firms have prior experience in tunnel construction and complex civil engineering works, resulting in a stronger response compared to earlier tunnel projects proposed in the city.

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The BDA opened the bids last week and will first assess the technical qualifications of the companies. This evaluation will examine their experience in tunnel construction, technical capacity, and financial strength. Only after this scrutiny will the financial bids be opened, following which the contract is expected to be awarded. The authority has set an ambitious deadline of 18 months to complete the project.

The proposed 2.18-km tunnel road will feature entry and exit ramps near Esteem Mall and Baptist Hospital. It will also include the construction of a railway underbridge. Unlike conventional deep tunnelling projects, the tunnel will be built using the cut-and-cover method, which does not require tunnel boring machines. The alignment will pass beneath the downward ramp of the Hebbal flyover and along the edge of Hebbal lake.

This short tunnel is part of a broader effort to streamline traffic movement in the Hebbal corridor, which already witnesses heavy congestion due to high vehicular density and multiple traffic intersections. However, mobility experts have raised questions about the long-term effectiveness of the project, pointing out that several large-scale infrastructure proposals already exist in the same stretch.

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Notably, the Hebbal zone is also set to host an underground metro line, a suburban railway corridor, and the proposed 17-km North-East Tunnel Road connecting Hebbal and Silk Board Junction. The earlier 17-km tunnel project had attracted only two eligible bidders, making the current response to the short tunnel project a significant development.