Global tender will be called for Bengaluru tunnel road: DCM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, May 22 (PTI): Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to call global tender for tunnel road project in Bengaluru, which is estimated to cost about Rs 17,780 crore, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Thursday.
As a minister in-charge for Bengaluru Development, Shivakumar after the cabinet meeting said, "It has been decided to call a tender for the tunnel road. Chief Minister has been authorised to decide on whether to go for a hybrid model or other model. The Chief Minister and I will decide on it technically. It will be a global tender. The estimated cost is Rs 17,780 crore."
The twin tunnel will run from Hebbal's Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board Junction, covering 16.745 km.
It will feature three main carriageways along with two or three-lane entry and exit ramps, officials said.
The cabinet has also approved the revised project cost of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-II from Rs 26,405.14 crore to Rs 40,425.02 crore.
Officials said, the estimate has been revised as the length of the metro line has been increased from 72.09 km to 75.06 km, also due to increase in cost and area of land acquisition, increase in guideline rate of land and increase in cost of civil works.
It has also been decided by the cabinet to waive off the entire interest amount for all such associations or organisations which have been allotted Civic Amenity Sites from the Bengaluru Development Authority, if they pay the entire lease amount to the authority within 120 days, Shivakumar said.
He said, this is being done by relaxing the provisions of Bangalore Development Authority (Allotment of Civic Amenity Sites) Rules, 1989, as a special case and as a one-time measure.
Shivakumar said, a new garbage collection and disposal plan is being devised for Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 4,791 crore for a period of 7 years.
"Earlier, during the BJP regime, 98 package tenders were called for garbage disposal. Some people approached the court regarding this issue, and the court dismissed their petition and ruled to take a final decision on this tender in the next four months. We have decided to make one package in each area, and garbage disposal will be done through 33 packages, including two packages in large areas," he said.
The tender for this will be called soon, he said. "A garbage disposal plan at a cost of Rs 4,791 crore for a period of 7 years is being prepared. There are enough differences between the existing system and the new system. Many responsibilities including garbage segregation, vehicle responsibility, and building waste segregation will be given."
The cabinet approved "Arbitration and Conciliation Centre (Amendment) Rules, 2025".
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said, "This will allow increasing fees. Earlier, it was fixed 13 years ago".
The cabinet decided not to permit sanction for prosecution against former chairman and 8 former members of Karnataka Public Service Commission for alleged irregularities in 2011 batch Gazetted Probationers Recruitment.
"We have decided to close this matter, as the cabinet has already decided and a law was enacted stating that the selection of 48 Assistant Commissioners and other probationers in 2011 was proper," Patil said.
Administrative approval was granted to purchase and supply 2 MRI scan machines for two district hospitals of Mysuru and Davangere at a total cost of Rs.30 crore under the ECRP-II grant under the National Health Mission's Free Diagnostic Services Program.
Approval was given for the state government to give guarantee to Karnataka State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Bengaluru for availing NABARD re-finance of Rs1600 crore during the year 2025-26.
It was also decided to reject the recommendation made by Lokayukta to entrust Departmental Enquiry against Bharat Lal Meena, Rtd. IAS, the then Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority and PB Ramamurthy, Retired IAS, the then Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board under Section 12(3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
