8 Ramps, 16 Bottlenecks: Is Bengaluru's Tunnel Project Headed For A Jam? Know More
The DPR reveals that already packed spots like Hebbal Flyover, IISc, Maharani College Junction, Wilson Garden, and Hosur Road could witness even more snarls.
Bengaluru's much-hyped tunnel road project, stretching from Hebbal to Silk Board and costing around Rs 22,000 crore, is now under scrutiny.
Promoted as a fix for the city's infamous traffic snarls, this underground road may end up doing the opposite.
Backed strongly by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the tunnel was meant to ease congestion. However, the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) reveals a worrying detail: the entry and exit ramps — just eight in total — could give rise to 16 new gridlock points, as per The new Indian Express.
Where Will the Trouble Begin?
The entry and exit ramps are planned in already clogged areas such as:
While the tunnel's core length is 16.68 km, users will actually travel close to 18.91 km one way — thanks to the ramp distances. Depending on where one starts or ends the journey, additional travel on surface roads could further extend the route beyond 19 km.
This defeats the whole purpose of faster travel and instead adds time, fuel, and frustration.
Rajkumar Dugar, founder of Citizens for Citizens (C4C), warns the tunnel could worsen traffic even for those who don't use it. 'New U-turns, sharper merges, and narrower roads will choke the city even more," he said.
Urban planner V Ravichandar also pointed out that entry/exit bottlenecks might cancel out any real time savings.
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First Published:
July 21, 2025, 14:26 IST
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