Tunnel planned between Esteem Mall and Baptist Hospital; expected to ease traffic

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said that a new 1.5-km-long tunnel road is being planned from Esteem Mall to Baptist Hospital to ease traffic at Hebbal flyover.

Speaking to the media recently after declaring open the new loop of the Hebbal flyover from Outer Ring Road to Bellary Road, he said, “Our government is committed to addressing the traffic congestion in the city. We have discussed the financial implications of the new tunnel road.”

“The new loop has been built at a cost of Rs 80 crore. The other loop from Esteem Mall towards Mekhri circle will be ready by this November. The total project cost is Rs 300 crore. The new loops increase the number of lanes from two to six. The BDA chairman has taken the responsibility to get the other loop ready by November,” he explained.

Shivakumar added: “We have invited tenders for a 16.5-km tunnel road between Hebbal and Silk Board Junction with an estimated cost of Rs 17,000 crore. I have briefed the CM about the need to manage traffic between Hebbal and Silk Board junctions.”

‘Money not important’

The Deputy CM said: “Money is not important here; work needs to be completed at any cost. A young MP has accused me of doing projects for money, but I don’t need money. The BJP hasn’t done any major work during its tenure and its leaders haven’t done anything to convince the Centre to offer more funds for Karnataka.”

Jawa – pure hardware — in action

During the inauguration, the Deputy CM rode his own Yezdi, bringing back biking memories of a bygone era.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah waved the green flag to declare the flyover open, the DCM stole the show with a ride on his Yezdi, which he used to ride during his college days.

Shivakumar is reported to have been an avid biker in his youth and had purchased the Yezdi for a princely sum of Rs 10,400 back then.

The bike was lying idle for decades before motorcycle enthusiast Supreeth brought it back to life.