- By Shibra Arshad
- Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:14 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, confirmed that the Tunnel from Hebbal to Central Silk Board in Bengaluru will be toll-based, arguing that the project would not be feasible without it.
Shivakumar, talking to reporters on Wednesday, said that the tunnel project can only take off on a toll-based model. The tunnel between Hebbal and Silk Board is anticipated to be a game changer, easing the infamous north-south traffic congestion. Shivakumar, who also handles the Bengaluru development portfolio, said, “It is not possible to construct a tunnel road without a toll.”
Stating that similar arrangements in other metro cities also operate on a toll basis, Shivakumar added, “if people value their time, they will pay for it. Many already pay tolls on the airport road, the NICE Road, and the Bengaluru–Mysuru expressway. This is no different.”
The state cabinet has approved the construction of two tunnel corridors under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, according to multiple reports. According to reports, the government has decided to hand over the responsibility of construction to a private company. The company will then transfer the tunnel back to the state government after 30 years, recovering its costs through tolls.
The proposed tunnel connecting Hebbal in the north to Silk Board Junction in the south aims to ease congestion on one of the city's busiest routes. By bypassing the notorious traffic jams on Outer Ring Road and its arterial routes, the tunnel promises to significantly cut travel time for thousands of daily commuters
Officials say the tender process is underway, and the government plans to invite bids from around the world. “We’ll issue the notification in the next couple of days,” Shivakumar said.