Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Wednesday, December 20, to seek Central government support for the implementation of various development projects in Bengaluru, including a 60-kilometer urban tunnel to alleviate traffic congestion.
Mr. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, stated in a memorandum provided to Ms. Sitharaman that the 60-kilometer tunnel would connect the East-West and North-South corridors in Bengaluru. The tunnel is expected to cost 30,000 crore, or 500 crore per kilometer.
According to him, the projected project would connect NH 7 and NH 4 and relieve traffic congestion in Bengaluru. The project would be undertaken by both the Centre and Karnataka, and the Finance Minister was urged to include funding in the budget for the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to carry it out.