No Toll, No Tunnel: Karnataka DyCM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that Bengaluru’s planned tunnel road between Hebbal and Silk Board Junction cannot happen without toll collection. Speaking during his visit to New Delhi, he said, No tunnel road is possible without a toll. People pay to save time. It’s the same on airport road, NICE road, and Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.

In June, the Karnataka Cabinet approved two tunnel corridors under the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, allowing private firms to recover costs through tolls over 30 years. Shivakumar also welcomed Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s input to Nitin Gadkari on building underground roads and said all efforts to improve the city’s traffic should be encouraged, regardless of who gets credit.

The detailed project report for the 16.6 km tunnel estimates a toll of ₹330 for cars, with future increases based on inflation. The estimated project cost is ₹18,000 crore.

Other toll estimates include ₹320 from Hebbal to HSR Layout, ₹250 to Hosur Main Road, ₹180 to Seshadri Road, and ₹195 to Race Course. Toll charges vary depending on distance and routes, with all rates currently proposed only for cars.

The north-south corridor tunnel will connect Hebbal and Silk Board Junction with three entry-exit ramps at Mekhri Circle, Racecourse, and Lalbagh. This tunnel aims to reduce travel time from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, offering faster and more efficient commuting in the city.