Tunnel Road tender deadline extended again amid lukewarm response from bidders

Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) has once again pushed the bid submission deadline for the ₹17,698 crore Twin Tunnel Roads project, raising doubts over investor confidence and project feasibility.

The much-debated Twin Tunnel Roads project, planned between Hebbal Esteem Mall and Central Silk Board Junction, has once again hit a roadblock as Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) extended the tender submission deadline to November 11. The ₹17,698 crore project, aimed at easing traffic congestion along the north-south corridor, continues to face poor response from major infrastructure players.

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Originally floated on July 16, the tender’s last date was September 3, later extended to September 30, then October 29, and now November 11. The project is to be executed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in two packages.

Despite early interest from big names like Tata Projects and the Adani Group, the repeated deadline extensions hint at hesitation among bidders. Officials suggest that legal challenges, including PILs filed against the project, and fears of a repeat of the Hebbal Steel Bridge controversy from 2013–2018, may have deterred participation.

When asked about these concerns, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in the project’s implementation. “Seeing our interest, people are supporting us. We are confident it will be implemented,” he said.

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The Twin Tunnel Road is designed as a three-lane, two-package corridor forming part of the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) major infrastructure push. However, the constant delays and lack of bidder enthusiasm have raised questions about the city’s mega mobility projects and their future.