CM Shivakumar Inaugurates S.M. Krishna 10-Lane Road in Bengaluru
Synopsis
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on 27 June 2026 inaugurated a 10.7-km, toll-free, 10-lane signal-free road in Bengaluru named after former CM S.M. Krishna, on Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti. The corridor links Kadabegeere Cross to Challaghatta Metro Station, cutting travel time from one hour to 15-20 minutes.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar inaugurated the new road on 27 June 2026 , coinciding with Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti .
The road is 10.7 kilometres long, has 10 lanes , and is fully signal-free and toll-free .
It connects Kadabegeere Cross to Challaghatta Metro Station in Bengaluru.
Travel time on the stretch is expected to drop from approximately one hour to 15-20 minutes .
The road is named after former CM S.M.
Krishna , who is credited with establishing Bengaluru as a global IT and biotechnology hub.
Senior dignitaries including Deputy CM Dr.
Parameshwara , Prema Krishna , and Chief Secretary Dr.
Shalini Rajneesh attended the inauguration.
The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Saturday, 27 June 2026, that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated a new 10-lane, signal-free road named after former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna in Bengaluru, choosing the historically significant occasion of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti for the dedication ceremony.
The official post read: 'ನೂತನ ದಶಪಥ ರಸ್ತೆಯನ್ನು ಇಂದು ಲೋಕಾರ್ಪಣೆಗೊಳಿಸಿ' ('inaugurated the new 10-lane road today'), honouring the contributions of both Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and S.M. Krishna to the city's growth.
Context
The new corridor stretches 10.7 kilometres, connecting Kadabegeere Cross to Challaghatta Metro Station. It is fully toll-free and is designed to cut travel time on this stretch from approximately one hour to just 15 to 20 minutes. The road is expected to ease daily commutes for lakhs of Bengaluru residents.
The inauguration was timed to coincide with Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the 16th-century founder of Bengaluru. The choice of date underscores the symbolic weight the Karnataka government has attached to the project, framing it as a tribute to two leaders — the city's ancient founder and a modern chief minister.
Policy Backdrop
S.M. Krishna, who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, is widely credited with laying the policy groundwork that transformed Bengaluru into India's foremost hub for information technology and biotechnology. His administration actively courted global technology firms and invested in infrastructure that supported the city's rapid expansion as a knowledge economy.
The official announcement specifically noted that S.M. Krishna's contributions were instrumental in Bengaluru emerging as a global centre for 'ಮಾಹಿತಿ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನ, ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ, ಸಂಶೋಧನೆ, ಜೈವಿಕ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನ' ('information technology, science, research, and biotechnology'). Naming a flagship arterial road after him represents both a political tribute and an acknowledgement of that developmental legacy.
Karnataka governments across administrations have consistently prioritised signal-free corridors and elevated arterial roads in Bengaluru to address the city's chronic traffic congestion, particularly on routes connecting southern suburbs to the central business district. The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has been the primary executing agency for such projects.
Stakeholders and Impact
The road is projected to benefit lakhs of daily commuters, including the large IT-sector workforce that travels between residential zones in south and west Bengaluru and tech corridors. Being entirely toll-free, the corridor removes a financial barrier that has drawn criticism in past infrastructure projects in the city.
Prominent dignitaries present at the inauguration included Prema Krishna, wife of the late S.M. Krishna; Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara; Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and Krishnabyrегowda; BDA Chairman N.A. Harris; Guarantee Schemes Chairman H.M. Revanna; MLA S.T. Somashekhar; Council Member Govindaraju; and Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh.
What's Next
Attention will now shift to how seamlessly the new corridor integrates with Bengaluru's expanding metro network, given that one terminus of the road connects directly to Challaghatta Metro Station. Planners and commuter groups will be watching whether the signal-free design delivers the promised travel-time reductions during peak hours.
The project also sets a precedent for further phases of the city's Comprehensive Mobility Plan, with pressure mounting on the BDA and the state government to replicate similar toll-free, high-capacity corridors across other congested arterials in Bengaluru.
Point of View
Lending the Congress government a dual legacy dividend. Naming a flagship toll-free corridor after a leader from a rival political lineage also signals cross-party outreach at a time when Karnataka's urban voter base is closely contested. The toll-free status is particularly significant — it directly addresses a recurring grievance among Bengaluru commuters and positions the Shivakumar administration as responsive to middle-class concerns. Longer term, the project's success will be measured not by the ribbon-cutting but by whether the signal-free design survives the city's notoriously rapid encroachment of road capacity.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the S.M. Krishna Dashapatha road in Bengaluru?
The S.M. Krishna Dashapatha is a newly inaugurated 10.7-km, 10-lane, signal-free and toll-free road in Bengaluru, connecting Kadabegeere Cross to Challaghatta Metro Station . It was named after former Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and inaugurated on 27 June 2026 .
Who inaugurated the new 10-lane road in Bengaluru in 2026?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated the road on 27 June 2026 , on the occasion of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti .
Is the new S.M. Krishna road in Bengaluru toll-free?
Yes, the road is completely toll-free . It is also signal-free, designed to reduce travel time on the corridor from roughly one hour to 15 to 20 minutes .
Why was the road named after S.M. Krishna?
S.M. Krishna served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and is credited with policies that helped Bengaluru become a global centre for IT, biotechnology, science, and research. The road was named in recognition of his contributions to the city's development.
Which agency built the new 10-lane road in Bengaluru?
The project was executed by the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) , the state body responsible for major road and urban infrastructure projects in the city.
