Will the Siddaramaiah Government Invite Tenders for the Ambitious Tunnel Project in Bengaluru?

Bengaluru, May 5 (NationPress) The Congress-led Karnataka government is set to issue tenders for a significant tunnel road project in Bengaluru.

During a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who oversees Water Resources, Bengaluru Development, and Town Planning, stated, “We are ready to commence the tunnel road project and will be inviting tenders. There is a requirement for land owned by military and other organizations in Bengaluru.

“We have submitted a proposal to the military regarding our land requirements. Additionally, we are in the process of acquiring land from private owners and the metro. We need to sit down and discuss the specific needs of this project,” emphasized Shivakumar, who is also responsible for Bengaluru Urban District.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has earmarked Rs 42,000 crore for the tunnel roads. Out of this, Rs 17,780 crore will be allocated for constructing tunnels along NH-7 from Hebbal to Hosur Road up to the Silk Board junction, which is a significant congestion point in the city’s tech corridor. Authorities are currently drafting a detailed project report. Furthermore, the state government has guaranteed Rs 19,000 crore for the initiative.

The government plans to create a 60-km urban tunnel connecting East-West and North-South corridors within Bengaluru city, facilitating traffic bypass of major surface roads.

This underground tunnel will help conserve surface space and maintain the city's aesthetic appeal. Since the project aims to link NH-7 with NH-14, the Karnataka government proposes collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Dy CM Shivakumar has urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to allocate funds for both the Karnataka government and NHAI in the upcoming Central budget.

Responding to inquiries regarding plans to elevate the height of the Alamatti Dam, also known as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam on the Krishna River, Shivakumar remarked, “We are in discussions with relevant ministers to formulate our stance. Our legal team has also been consulted, and we expect their feedback shortly, after which we will proceed. Our commitment is to raise the dam height to 524 meters.”

“We have initiated land acquisition and are addressing the legal aspects of the project,” he added.

When questioned about Andhra Pradesh and Telangana benefiting from 13 tmc of water, Shivakumar replied, “Let them reap benefits or face setbacks; we will construct the dam up to 524 meters, and we will take necessary actions.”

The Almatti Dam is integral to the Upper Krishna River Project (UKRP) in the Krishna River valley and has historically been contentious between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Following legal resolutions, Karnataka received approval to raise the Almatti reservoir height to 524 meters.

Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated on May 3 that a strong demand for a gazette notification will be presented during the Krishna River Valley meeting of the four involved states, convened by the Union Jal Shakti Minister on May 7.

The second tribunal's decision allocated 173 TMC of water to Karnataka. “To effectively utilize this allocation, the dam's height must be raised from 519 meters to 524 meters. For this to occur, a gazette notification is essential. We will stress this demand in the upcoming meeting,” added CM Siddaramaiah.

Regarding remarks by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, about Ram being a fictional character, Shivakumar stated he was unaware of the comment and would respond after gathering more information.

On his visit to the Mandya and Ramanagara regions, Shivakumar noted, “There is a need for water in Channarayapatna, along with drinking water. This project has been delayed, and we must evaluate its status. To address this, I, former MP D.K. Suresh, Bengaluru Rural Congress MP C.P. Yogeshwara, and other leaders will visit the site to seek farmers’ cooperation for the project.”