3-tier flyovers, tunnel roads & more: Here’s what Gadkari proposes to tackle Bengaluru traffic
Gadkari also said that the central government is serious about helping Bengaluru improve its road network. He added that politics is not a factor when it comes to development.
Bengaluru: Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently shared two big suggestions to help reduce Bengaluru’s ongoing traffic problems—building tunnel roads and creating three-level flyovers. He shared these ideas during a meeting with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in New Delhi.
Speaking at the Raising Bharat Summit organized by News18, Gadkari said many cities around the world are now building tunnel roads to increase vehicle speed and reduce traffic jams in cities. "I told the Chief Minister of Karnataka that tunnel roads could really help Bengaluru. We can also think about adding two more levels to the current flyovers,” he said. He explained that this kind of flyover plan is already being tried in other Indian cities too.
Focus on improving road network
Gadkari also said that the central government is serious about helping Bengaluru improve its road network. He added that politics is not a factor when it comes to development. "I don’t look at which party a Chief Minister belongs to. I treat them all the same. Of course, I get upset sometimes when projects don’t move forward. In Karnataka, ₹10,000 crore worth of projects were waiting to start, but there were delays. In my recent meeting, the CM gave the go-ahead for 26 out of 38 pending projects,” he added.
The tunnel road project has been discussed for a while now and is seen as something that could really change the way people travel in Bengaluru. Still, some groups say tunnel roads might not be the best long-term answer to the city’s traffic troubles.
Last week, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had met Gadkari and asked for central approval for a large underground road network. This tunnel would link several main national highways, including Mysuru Road (NH-275), Hosur Road (NH-48/NH-75 through Electronics City), Tumakuru Road (NH-48), Ballari Road (NH-44), and Old Madras Road (Old NH-4), all connected below the surface.
Bengaluru Tunnel Road Plan
Even though there has been some backlash against the tunnel road idea, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar explained that this is part of a bigger, long-term traffic solution for the city. He said that widening roads instead would be extremely expensive. The proposed tunnels are planned between Hebbal and Silk Board, and from K.R. Puram to Mysuru Road.
Shivakumar explained at a press conference that if the government tried to widen the road near Bengaluru Palace, it would need to pay ₹3,000 crore just for Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) as compensation. But if they wanted to buy land along the tunnel route to widen roads, the total cost would be around ₹3 lakh crore, which is not practical.
He was answering media questions about the BJP’s planned protests against the tunnel road plan. Shivakumar mentioned that earlier too, when former Bengaluru development minister K.J. George proposed a steel bridge project, there had been strong objections. He said the opposition party has every right to speak against such plans, but these steps are being taken to solve a serious issue.
According to current estimates, the cost of building the tunnel roads will be around ₹19,000 crore and will be paid from the state government’s budget.