Tenders invited for 16.7 km Twin Tunnel Project linking Hebbal and Silk Board

Amid mounting criticism, B-SMILE, a special purpose vehicle, has floated global tenders for the proposed Twin Tunnel Road between Esteem Mall Junction in north Bengaluru’s Hebbal and Silk Board Junction in the southern part of the city. The project will be executed in two segments.

According to the tender notice, issued by the Superintending Engineer of B-SMILE, the construction period has been set at 50 months, equivalent to four years and two months. If completed on schedule, Bengaluru residents can expect access to the tunnel road by the end of 2029.

Despite opposition from sections of citizens and the Opposition party, the stated aim of the tunnel project is to reduce congestion and address connectivity woes.

BOOT model

The project will be carried out under the Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model, with a total concession period of 34 years. This includes the 50-month construction period, during which the contracted companies will develop the infrastructure and subsequently operate and maintain it.

The first package will cover 8.748 km between Esteem Mall Junction and Seshadri Road, Race Course Junction. The second package will cover 8.748 km from Seshadri Road to Silk Board junction.

Each stretch will include two separate tunnels, each with three lanes, featuring entry and exit points along the route. As previously reported by The Hindu, at least eight Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will be deployed for the construction.

The estimated cost for Package 1 is ₹8,770 crore, requiring a financial guarantee of ₹43.85 crore from the selected contractor. Package 2 is estimated at ₹8,928 crore, with a required financial guarantee of ₹44.64 crore.

The tender document specifies that only contractors registered with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or equivalent registrations with agencies such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Karnataka Public Works Department (KPWD), Railways, Military Engineering Services (MES), National Highway Authority, or other state government bodies are eligible to apply.

The technical bids for the project are scheduled to open on September 3.