Latest news with #RagiguddaDoubleDeckerProject
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
PM Modi sought representation, Karnataka DCM tells council
BENGALURU: Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bengaluru on Sunday, asked him to give a representation on the Tunnel Road Project, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday informed the Council that the PM was impressed by the Ragigudda Double Decker Project and gave a go-ahead. Now, the state government will come up with a 44 km-long double-decker project for Bengaluru, and both BBMP and BMRCL will share the cost on a 50:50 ratio basis, he said. Replying to a question by BJP MLC CT Ravi, the Bengaluru development minister shared details of the Tunnel Road Project and its feasibility. 'The PM said India is seen through Bengaluru, hence, we asked him for cooperation for the Tunnel Road Project. The PM asked me for a representation, and he assured that he would look into it,' the DCM said. He added that about 25 years ago, when he was urban development minister, Bengaluru's population was 70 lakh, which has now touched 1.40 crore. Vehicles number 1.23 crore. The city has 25 lakh software engineers, compared to 13 lakh in California. 'To ease traffic, the Tunnel Road Project, Double-Decker Project, and roads in the Buffer Zone are being planned for the city,' he stated. Further, he said Union minister Nitin Gadkari was informed about the traffic situation, and he suggested to visit Mumbai and study the situation there. 'After a study of 1.6 years, we decided to go ahead with the Tunnel Road Project,' he reiterated.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
PM Modi asked to give representation on Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project: Dy CM Shivakumar
BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar informed the Legislative Council on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Bengaluru, directed the state government to submit a formal proposal for the ambitious Tunnel Road Project. The PM's instruction came after he expressed admiration for the Ragigudda Double Decker Project and encouraged its expansion into a 44-km double-decker corridor for the city. Shivakumar was responding to BJP MLC CT Ravi's queries regarding the Tunnel Road Project's feasibility and alleged discrepancies in its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The DCM stated, "The PM said India is seen through Bengaluru and echoed what former PM Vajpayee has told. Hence we asked him to fund the Tunnel Road Project to which he replied saying give a representation and he shall look into it." He added that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) would share the project cost equally. Highlighting Bengaluru's rapid urbanization, Shivakumar noted that the city's population has doubled from 70 lakh to 1.4 crore in 25 years, while vehicle numbers have surged to 1.23 crore. "The city has 25 lakh software engineers compared to 13 lakh in California," he said, emphasizing the need for infrastructure upgrades like the Tunnel Road, Double Decker corridors, and buffer zone roads to ease congestion. The DCM revealed that Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had advised studying Mumbai's tunnel projects before finalizing plans. After a 1.6-year review, the government decided to proceed. Defending the higher cost compared to metro projects, Shivakumar clarified, "The DPR cost for Tunnel Road was more compared to Metro was due to increase in diameter and length and present-day situation." He detailed that the 14-meter-wide tunnel would accommodate three lanes plus an emergency lane, becoming India's longest upon completion at Rs 770 crore per km. The Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model will see the state contributing 40% and private agencies 60%, with Rs 800 crore allocated for land acquisition. "Judges, officials, and common man from Hebbal surroundings take 45 minutes to reach Vidhana Soudha and Court Surroundings and are suffering daily," he said, defending the project
