• Source:PTI
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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that a 190-kilometre-long tunnel has been proposed to ease traffic congestion in the city. He further added that the state government will invite public tenders for the project within 45 days.

Shivakumar made this announcement while addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha. He also said that as many as eight companies have qualified for it. “These companies will submit a feasibility report and we are preparing to call for public tenders within 45 days,” he added.

The deputy chief minister, who holds the Bengaluru City Development portfolio, said that these companies will investigate and report on how the tunnel road should be, whether it should be four or six lanes, where it should begin and end, and whether it should be stretched across the city, as reported by news agency PTI.

Shivakumar mentioned that the project will be done in several stages as it is of a very large scale and requires a huge amount of funding.

As of now, the government has proposed a 190 km long tunnel to ease the traffic congestion. The government has also selected some areas on a priority basis.

These areas include- Esteem Mall Junction to Mekhri Circle, Miller Road, Chalukya Circle, Trinity Circle, Sarjapur Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road to Krishna Rao Park, Mysore Road to Sirsi Circle, Magadi Road, Tumakuru Road to Yeshwantpur Junction, Outer Ring Road, Goraguntepalya, KR Puram, Silk Board, Bellary Road, Old Madras Road.

The deputy chief minister further emphasised that Bengaluru needs at least a four-lane tunnel road. “The companies are going to study where and how this tunnel road can be made,” he said.

Shivakumar also said that with the monsoon season coming to an end, chief engineers have been tasked with putting pressure on contractors to complete the most important priority works, such as drainage for rainwater flow.

The deputy chief minister of the southern state also said that he spoke to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the traffic congestion in the city.

"I have already met and discussed with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Vehicles arrive in Bengaluru through the National Highway and cause traffic congestion… I have discussed this matter with him about this matter. He also gave me advice and responded positively,” Shivakumar said.