IISc flags congestion, flood risks in Bengaluru’s proposed Hebbal tunnel

A study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has raised concerns over Bengaluru’s proposed 2-km, six-lane Hebbal tunnel, saying the project could shift traffic congestion to new bottlenecks instead of resolving it.

The IISc Sustainable Transportation (IST) Lab study said congestion could move towards new choke points near the Veterinary Hospital and Esteem Mall, with spillover effects potentially pushing queues back towards Mekhri Circle.

The proposed tunnel is planned from Esteem Mall to Veterinary College via the Hebbal flyover junction.

The study has also flagged potential flooding and structural risks linked to the project, particularly around Hebbal Lake and the existing flyover.

According to the study, the tunnel could eventually see its effectiveness decline as traffic builds up at its entry and exit points.

The IISc researchers have instead highlighted an underground Metro option as a more effective alternative for improving connectivity in the area.

The study also compared the passenger-level cost of the two options. The proposed road tunnel was estimated at Rs 5.23 per passenger, compared with 86 paise per passenger for the underground Metro.

The proposed Hebbal tunnel has an estimated project cost of around Rs 1,139 crore.

The findings have added to the debate over Bengaluru’s approach to tackling congestion at one of its busiest transport nodes, with the study calling for a wider assessment of the project’s long-term traffic and environmental impacts.

The IISc report was released on Tuesday, August 25, and its findings were reported on Thursday, August 27.