No tunnel road exit ramps near Vidhana Soudha: Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar Saturday instructed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials that no tunnel road exit ramps should be planned around a 1 km radius of Vidhana Soudha. This comes two days after the Karnataka cabinet approved the construction of a 16.7 kilometre underground tunnel road in Bengaluru, connecting Esteem Mall at Hebbal Junction to Central Silk Board Junction in HSR Layout. With a projected cost of Rs 17,780 crore, the North-South Corridor tunnel aims to alleviate the city's notorious traffic bottlenecks.
Shivakumar announced that the government would issue a global tender, with the procurement model to be either hybrid or Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT). However, he stated that the global tenders for civil works will be floated only after review by M A Saleem, Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG and IGP), and senior traffic department officials.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting at Vidhana Soudha regarding the tunnel road construction in Bengaluru, he said, 'There will be no exits allowed within a 1 km radius of Vidhana Soudha. Traffic jams here would affect the entire city. Hence, I have instructed police officials to review this. The meeting was attended by myself, the Chief Secretary of the government, and the Chief Administrator of GBA.'
He added, 'Additionally, a decision has been made to construct a 114 km elevated corridor in Bengaluru, and the opinions of traffic police officials have been sought regarding this project.'
According to the draft Detailed Project Report (DPR), two exit ramps are planned near Vidhana Soudha to facilitate the exit of vehicles entering the tunnel from Silk Board and Hebbal sides. The report also reflects the government's concern about critical junctions bound to face traffic congestion at the entry and exit points of the tunnel. The report identifies 23 such junctions, including a few around Vidhana Soudha.
The tunnel road project has faced extensive criticism from the Opposition BJP and several civic groups. BJP MP P C Mohan criticised the decision, accusing the state government of shirking its financial responsibility for Metro Phase 2. 'Bengaluru needs India's Metro, not Turkey's tunnel,' he said. 'It has shifted Rs 9,729 crore in additional Metro Phase 2 costs to the Central Government, avoiding its responsibility. The MoU clearly states that cost escalations for Metro Phase 2 are the State Government's responsibility,' he added.
Clean Bengaluru program for waste disposal
Regarding waste disposal in Bengaluru, Shivakumar stated, 'We have decided to call for 33 packages, with two packages for larger constituencies and one for each smaller constituency. This Rs 4,000 crore project was recently approved in the cabinet meeting. The tender will be called for a seven-year period.'
'Through the Clean Bengaluru program, we have decided to clear construction debris and other waste across all parts of Bengaluru at once. Citizens are encouraged to participate by informing GBA officials through an app or a designated phone number about locations with waste, and the waste will be cleared. Marshals and officials have been deployed for this purpose… An Integrated Solid Waste Management tender will be called within 15 days,' he added.
Tender for Kaveri Aarati Platform construction soon
The deputy chief minister said, 'The Kaveri Aarati will become a symbol of our state's culture and heritage. The program will be designed to include traditions from Kodagu, Malenadu, the coastal region, and Bengaluru, along with the region's monasteries. I am planning for this event to take place over three days on weekends. Alongside the rituals, cultural programs will be organised. Rs 92 crore has been allocated for this in the Kaveri Nigam.'
Shivakumar also stated that the energy, public works, tourism, religious endowment, and Kannada and culture departments will also join hands for this program. 'This program will be a South Indian event. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, through which the Kaveri River flows, will be given opportunities to participate. All these matters were discussed in today's meeting. Most of the blueprints are ready, and details will be shared with the public once finalised,' he said.
'The platform for this event will be constructed in flowing water. A tender for its construction will be called soon,' he added.
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