BDA proposes 4.5-km tunnel road beneath Goraguntepalya junction

Following the commencement of work on a 2.2-km short tunnel road in Hebbal, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has proposed a new 4.5-km, six-lane underground corridor beneath the busy Goraguntepalya junction. The newly proposed tunnel aims to connect the Dr Rajkumar Memorial and BEL Circle along the Outer Ring Road, cutting across the heavily congested Tumakuru Road intersection.

BDA Commissioner Major P Manivannan confirmed that the authority is currently preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Goraguntepalya tunnel. Once the DPR is completed, the BDA will submit it to the Karnataka state government for final approval.

According to a senior BDA engineer, the upcoming DPR will assess the technical feasibility of the underground corridor, calculate the expected reduction in travel times, and plan the integration of the tunnel with other major infrastructure projects in the area. The corridor is also slated to accommodate a metro-cum-flyover under Namma Metro's Phase 3.

To facilitate smooth traffic flow, the proposed tunnel will feature an underground loop designed specifically for motorists traveling toward the BEL junction and the Dr Rajkumar Memorial from Tumakuru Road.

The BDA has not yet finalized the construction methodology for the project. Engineers are evaluating whether to use cut-and-cover methods, box-pushing technology, or tunnel boring machines. Officials noted that several vacant land parcels along the proposed alignment could help expedite the construction process once work begins.

The project is being planned in coordination with Namma Metro's proposed 37-km double-decker corridor, which is designed to run from JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura in Hebbal. The elevated road portion of the metro project is estimated to cost Rs 9,692.33 crore. To integrate the double-decker stretch, metro authorities plan to build a new station at Goraguntepalya and connect it to the existing Green Line station via a foot overbridge.

The Goraguntepalya tunnel project was originally conceptualized by the Bengaluru West City Corporation before being handed over to the BDA. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the Rs 1,139.67-crore Hebbal short-tunnel road, is expected to directly monitor both tunnel projects.