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The Karnataka cabinet, on Thursday, May 22, approved the construction of a 16.7 kilometre underground tunnel road in Bengaluru, connecting Esteem Mall at Hebbal Junction to Central Silk Board Junction in HSR Layout. With a projected cost of Rs 17,780 crore, the North-South Corridor tunnel aims to alleviate the city’s notorious traffic bottlenecks.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the government would issue a global tender, with the procurement model to be either hybrid or BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer), to be finalised following technical reviews. The tunnel will be constructed in two phases, with multiple entry and exit points, and will feature two to three lanes. Law Minister HK Patil stated that the project is expected to be completed within three years.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP PC Mohan criticised the decision, accusing the state government of shirking its financial responsibility for Metro Phase 2. “Bengaluru needs India’s Metro, not Turkey’s tunnel,” he said. “It has shifted Rs 9,729 crore in additional Metro Phase 2 costs to the Central Government, avoiding its responsibility. The MoU clearly states that cost escalations for Metro Phase 2 are the State Government’s responsibility,” he added.
Critics and experts have warned of the potential pitfalls of tunnel construction, including environmental degradation and the risk of worsening existing traffic congestion.
In addition, the cabinet approved a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s solid waste management system. Moving away from the previous BJP government’s 98-package model, the new plan restructures operations into 33 packages, one for each assembly constituency, with two additional packages for larger ones.
Under the new model, contractors will be responsible for waste segregation, vehicle management, and the handling of construction waste. Tenders are expected to be issued soon, and Rs 4,792 crore has been allocated for the initiative.
Furthermore, the Karnataka government has approved a one-time interest waiver on pending lease payments for Civic Amenity (CA) site holders, including temples, fuel stations, and public institutions. Those who have defaulted on payments can now settle their dues within 120 days of the order to avail of the waiver.