Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani Meets Karnataka CM as Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project Moves Ahead

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani met Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the Chief Minister’s residence on August 23, as attention turns to Bengaluru’s proposed north-south tunnel road project.

The meeting comes at a significant stage for the 16.75-kilometre Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel road, a major infrastructure proposal aimed at improving connectivity across Bengaluru and easing traffic congestion on some of the city’s busiest corridors.

Adani Enterprises has emerged as the lowest bidder, or L1 bidder, for the project under Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure (B-SMILE). The Karnataka government has estimated the project cost at ₹17,698 crore. However, the company’s bid was higher than the government’s estimated project cost.

Despite emerging as the L1 bidder, Adani Enterprises has not yet received the formal contract award from the Karnataka government. The project will therefore need to move through the remaining government processes before construction can officially begin.

The proposed tunnel is expected to provide a major north-south connection through Bengaluru, potentially offering an alternative route for traffic travelling between the Hebbal and Silk Board areas. The project is being closely watched because of its scale and the potential impact on the city’s long-term mobility network.

The latest development also comes as Bengaluru continues to face growing pressure on its road infrastructure. Rapid urban expansion, rising vehicle ownership and increasing movement between residential, commercial and industrial areas have intensified congestion across several key routes.

Under B-SMILE, the tunnel road is part of the broader push to develop large-scale infrastructure solutions for Bengaluru. The use of underground road infrastructure could help address some of the challenges associated with acquiring additional surface land in densely developed parts of the city.

For now, the key development to watch is the formal award of the contract. Once the government completes the necessary procedures, further details on project execution, timelines and construction phases are expected to emerge.

The proposed ₹17,698 crore project remains one of Bengaluru’s major upcoming road infrastructure developments, with its progress likely to have implications for the city’s future traffic management and connectivity.