Bengaluru, Nov 9 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has defended the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road project and the elevated corridor near Mehkri Circle, stating that alternative road networks are essential to reduce the city’s growing traffic congestion.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, November 9, Shivakumar said Bengaluru needs new infrastructure to ensure smoother traffic movement. He criticised the opposition for objecting to development projects, including tunnel roads and elevated corridors.
The Chief Minister said the government must consider underground tunnels and elevated roads because widening existing roads would require demolishing buildings and create additional difficulties.
Mehkri Circle Project to Improve Bengaluru Traffic
Shivakumar said he had requested the Defence Minister to provide a portion of defence land near Mehkri Circle to facilitate road widening. If the land is made available, the government plans to introduce a new traffic management system to improve vehicle movement in the area.
The proposed design includes a rotary junction with a circle-within-a-circle system. Separate arrangements will be made for vehicles turning left and right to reduce traffic conflicts.
The plan also includes an elevated road system and underground tunnel connectivity wherever required.
The Chief Minister said the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) was preparing to develop connecting roads around the project at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore.
Traffic Restrictions During Construction
Shivakumar assured commuters that traffic would not be completely stopped during construction. According to him, traffic police officials have already inspected the proposed plan, while the BDA Chairman has also visited the project location.
He said only certain heavy vehicles and cargo vehicles might face temporary restrictions during specific hours. Other vehicles would be allowed to move without interruption.
The government is also planning alternative roads to minimise inconvenience to commuters during construction.
Alternative Plan for Bengaluru Tunnel Road Alignment
The Chief Minister revealed that he had recently inspected the proposed tunnel road alignment near Lalbagh from a helicopter.
He said officials had identified certain geographical challenges, including a large crater and differences in the rocky terrain near the tunnel’s proposed exit point.
Considering these factors, Shivakumar said officials had been instructed to prepare an alternative alignment to avoid construction-related problems.
Mehkri Circle Elevated Corridor and Tunnel Road to Be Separate Projects
Clarifying the relationship between the proposed elevated corridor and the tunnel road, Shivakumar said both would be developed as separate projects with independent traffic management systems.
However, the government plans to provide an exit facility from the tunnel road to the elevated corridor to ensure better connectivity and smoother vehicle movement.
He also clarified that the proposed project is a short tunnel road and not the 16-kilometre tunnel road project discussed separately.
Focus on Reducing Hebbal Traffic Congestion
The Chief Minister said the proposed short tunnel road is being planned mainly to address traffic congestion around the Hebbal region.
He explained that providing alternative connectivity is important to prevent traffic bottlenecks from shifting from one junction to another.
According to Shivakumar, the government’s objective is to improve traffic flow across multiple road stretches rather than address congestion at just one location.
He also criticised the BJP and JD(S), alleging that opposition parties were opposing development initiatives instead of supporting infrastructure improvements.
The Karnataka government maintains that the proposed tunnel road, elevated corridor and connecting road developments will help improve Bengaluru’s traffic management and provide better connectivity to commuters.
