BENGALURU: Eight years after the controversial steel flyover project was scrapped due to opposition and environmental concerns, the Karnataka cabinet has approved a fresh plan to tackle traffic congestion between Hebbal Junction and Mekhri Circle in north Bengaluru.
Administrative approval for twin tunnel and elevated corridor
On Thursday, the cabinet granted administrative clearance for the construction of a three-lane twin tunnel using the cut-and-cover method along this notorious stretch. The project, estimated to cost Rs 2,215 crore, also includes an elevated corridor with a down ramp to facilitate smoother vehicle movement in and out of the junction.
Officials said the project aims to improve traffic flow at Hebbal, a key gateway connecting the city to Kempegowda International Airport and northern Bengaluru. Detailed project timelines, including implementation schedules, are expected to be released soon.
Opposition voices concerns over cost and planning
The BJP, however, criticised the state government for pursuing what it called expensive and ineffective solutions to Bengaluru’s traffic woes.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said the government is “obsessed with building tunnels despite their exorbitant costs and limited impact on easing congestion.” He claimed that under the Congress administration, “urban planning and development has become a budget-maximisation exercise marked by duplication of efforts and lack of coordination.”
Financial and planning objections highlighted
Surya cited internal objections from the Finance Department, stating the cabinet advanced the project despite several concerns. These included a surface road alternative that, according to him, could have cost just one-tenth of the proposed tunnel, potential conflicts between the north-south tunnel and the new short tunnel, ambiguity in funding mechanisms, and lack of expert-backed evidence supporting the tunnel as the most effective solution.
He described the cabinet decision as “arbitrary” and said governance under the Congress had become “unpredictable, lacking transparency and accountability.”
Conclusion
The twin tunnel and elevated corridor project marks a major step in addressing Bengaluru’s persistent traffic congestion, particularly along the Hebbal-Mekhri stretch. While government officials emphasise its potential to streamline vehicle flow, critics continue to question its cost-effectiveness and planning rationale.