When Will Karnataka Government Call for Tenders for Bengaluru's Tunnel Road Project?

Bengaluru, May 25 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the state Cabinet has greenlit a two-phase tunnel road construction project in Bengaluru, with an invitation for tenders for the initial phase expected shortly.

Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, following a meeting about the Bengaluru tunnel road and the Cauvery Aarti at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Mandya, Shivakumar elaborated on the project.

"In a bid to prevent traffic congestion at the entrance and exit points of the tunnel roads in Bengaluru, we convened a meeting with officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), the State Police Chief, and the Traffic Police Department prior to calling for tenders," he explained.

He emphasized that, "No exit points will be permitted within a one-kilometer radius of Vidhana Soudha. Traffic congestion in this area would have repercussions for the entire city. Therefore, I have instructed police officials to conduct an analysis. This meeting included the Chief Secretary of the government and senior GBA officials as well," he added.

Furthermore, he mentioned, "We have also resolved to construct a 114-km elevated corridor in Bengaluru, and we are gathering feedback from the traffic police for this initiative as well."

On the topic of waste management, Shivakumar stated, "We have decided to issue tenders for 33 waste management packages—one for each of the major wards. The Rs 4,000-crore project was recently sanctioned by the state Cabinet and will be implemented under a seven-year tender."

"The Swachh Bengaluru initiative aims to tackle construction debris and other waste throughout the city in a unified manner. We urge citizens to report waste locations through the GBA app or a designated phone line. Officials and marshals will be dispatched to clear the identified waste," he continued.

He added that tenders for an integrated solid waste management system will be released within 15 days.

"The Cauvery Aarti will showcase the culture and heritage of our state, integrating rituals from Kodagu, Malenadu, Karnataka, and Bengaluru regions while collaborating with local religious institutions. I'm contemplating organizing the event over three days during the weekends, combining worship with cultural activities. A budget of Rs 92 crore has been allocated for this in the Cauvery Corporation budget," he said.

Shivakumar indicated that departments such as Energy, Public Works, Tourism, Religious Endowment, and Kannada and Culture will join forces to organize the event.

"A gallery accommodating 10,000 spectators is also being planned for public viewing. We have invited submissions for the best theme song for the event," he added.

"This will be a South Indian cultural event, open to participation from residents of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry—all states traversed by the Cauvery. Today's meeting thoroughly discussed these aspects. Most blueprints are prepared, and the public will be informed once everything is finalized," he concluded.

The Deputy CM confirmed that the stage for the Cauvery Aarti will be constructed over flowing water, and tenders for it will be issued soon.