Karnataka government unveils ₹1 lakh crore plan to ease Bengaluru’s traffic woes

The Karnataka government has announced a ₹1 lakh crore investment to address Bengaluru’s severe traffic congestion. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar shared the plans at the Invest Karnataka Global Investors Meet, outlining major infrastructure projects aimed at improving mobility in the city, which has the highest number of vehicles among Indian capitals.

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Key projects include a 40-km twin tunnel estimated at ₹42,500 crore and a 41-km double-decker corridor integrating road and Metro rail, costing ₹18,000 crore. Additionally, a 110-km elevated corridor worth ₹15,000 crore and 320 km of buffer roads with an allocation of ₹5,000 crore are planned.

The initiative also features a ₹500-crore Sky Deck, a 74-km Bengaluru Business Corridor budgeted at ₹27,000 crore, and a proposal for a second airport to meet growing demands. However, Shivakumar did not discuss expansions of mass transit options like suburban rail or Metro buses.

With Bengaluru’s population doubling from 70 lakh to 1.4 crore in two decades, and vehicle registrations crossing 1.1 crore, traffic congestion remains a critical issue. Critics, however, highlight delays in existing projects and question the feasibility of new ones.

Meanwhile, ongoing civic works and events like the Aero India Show have worsened traffic, prompting residents to urge the government to prioritize fixing existing infrastructure before launching new ventures.