NHAI Seeks Bids for Rs 51.27 Crore Tunnel Underpass on Bengaluru Airport Highway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for a Rs 51.27 crore infrastructure project to construct a tunnel-style underpass along the Bengaluru airport highway, a key arterial corridor that handles heavy daily traffic. The project, which excludes Goods and Services Tax, is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve safety for both local and long-distance commuters.

According to NHAI officials, the proposed work includes a 320-metre covered depressed service road, an additional 800-metre surface-level service road, and several allied infrastructure works. The underpass will be built approximately six metres below the existing road level and will feature two lanes with paved shoulders, ensuring smoother movement for service road users who currently spill onto the main carriageway.

The tunnel underpass will connect the domestic and technical areas of the Indian Air Force station located along the stretch, while also providing connectivity between the runway zone and Hunasamaranahalli Lake. As part of the project, NHAI will relocate Indian Air Force assets, including the entrance gate and sections of the compound wall. Officials said around 200 metres of relocation work has already been completed.

NHAI’s Bengaluru project director has noted that this section is the only remaining stretch without a service road on the 22.12-km Hebbal to Trumpet Interchange section of National Highway 44. The absence of service roads has led to frequent traffic bottlenecks and accidents, as local users are forced to merge with high-speed airport-bound traffic.

The underpass will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method, a technique that involves excavating from the surface, building the tunnel structure, and restoring the road above through backfilling. Unlike tunnel boring machines used in longer tunnel projects, this method allows faster execution with minimal disruption. NHAI has confirmed that no traffic diversions will be required during construction.

Bids for the project are scheduled to be opened on February 25, with the contract expected to be awarded by the end of March. While the official completion timeline is 18 months from the award date, NHAI aims to complete major works ahead of Aero India 2027, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru next February.