Bengaluru’s ₹9.5 crore tunnel project DPR sparks controversy over blunders

Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has come under scrutiny after the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for its ₹9.5 crore underground tunnel project was found riddled with copy-paste errors. The report, prepared by Rodic Consultants Private Limited, outlines plans for a tunnel connecting Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board Junction.

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Completed in just three months, the DPR promised to address Bengaluru’s notorious traffic woes, potentially reducing travel time from 90 minutes to just 20 minutes. However, the report’s executive summary raised eyebrows when it included traffic data from Maharashtra cities like Malegaon and Nashik, instead of Bengaluru-specific information. Traffic surveys even referenced directions such as “Malegaon to Nashik City,” sparking public outcry over the report’s accuracy.

Citizens took to social media to express their frustration. One activist commented, “Meticulous planning for TRP Tunnel Road Project. Should we cry or laugh?” Another remarked, “This shows how numbers are randomly retrofitted into surveys.”

Despite the blunders, the proposed tunnel would feature three entry and exit ramps, improving connectivity across key areas like Mekhri Circle, Racecourse, and Lalbagh.

BBMP has initiated an investigation into the discrepancies and hired Altinok Consulting for a separate ₹4.7 crore feasibility study. This comes amid comparisons to Bengaluru Metro’s 37-km Hebbal-Sarjapur DPR, which took a year to prepare at a cost of ₹1.5 crore.