Expert committee finds major gaps in Bengaluru tunnel road project report
Bengaluru: A key initiative of Bengaluru’s proposed tunnel road project, backed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has been called into question after a government-appointed expert committee identified serious flaws in its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The panel, constituted by the Karnataka Urban Development Department, said the DPR appeared to have been prepared hastily, with inadequate data and insufficient technical assessment.
Headed by Siddanagouda Hegaraddi, Executive Director (Civil) of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the committee observed that the DPR relied on just four soil test points for planning the tunnel, according to a report published by The Hindu. The soil tests conducted are carried out in insufficient number for a project of this magnitude, as per the report. It also advised that the decision to locate one of the tunnel shafts inside the Lalbagh Botanical Garden be reconsidered, citing the ecological sensitivity of the area.
The report also pointed out major deficiencies in the traffic study and noted that the proposed tunnel would run almost parallel to the planned Namma Metro line along Bengaluru’s north-south corridor. The committee said that the justification for such an expensive infrastructure project could not be verified, without credible data on how many people would shift from private vehicles to public transport. It pointed out that, making its assumptions difficult to substantiate, the DPR did not include reliable peak-hour traffic data, modal share, or future projections.
The committee described the traffic studies as weak and noted that they were based on secondary information and assumptions and no field surveys were carried out to collect primary data. The committee further found that critical technical facts about mode-specific commuter distribution, predicted changes to BMTC buses, metro and suburban rail, and estimated lane requirements were missing from the study.
The DPR also lacked critical documents and studies about land acquisition plans, utility and tree relocation details, environmental and social impact assessments, disaster management and security plans, and pavement and drainage designs, according to the panel.
The committee observed inconsistencies in the proposed lane configuration. The DPR projected traffic demand only up to 2041, while it proposed a six-lane design intended for a 25-year horizon. The committee recommended either extending the projection period or adjusting the lane plan to match the available data.
The panel further cautioned that the placement of entry and exit ramps could worsen surface congestion, especially where tunnel traffic merges with existing junctions. It advised a minimum two-lane design for ramps and improvements in layout near Palace Grounds and Mehkri Circle.
Urban mobility expert Sathya Arikutharam, who compared the findings of the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and the Urban Development Department’s expert panel, said both reached similar conclusions, that the tunnel project lacked a sound transport or environmental basis. He noted that DULT’s review in November 2024 had already warned that the proposed alignment did not align with the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan or Climate Action Plan. He had also advised exploring shorter tunnel segments instead.
The report also stated that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proceeded with commissioning the DPR before the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) completed its review and ignored the warnings. Both DULT and the expert committee found that no primary traffic data or real-time surveys had been conducted.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
