Let Me Explain: Is tunnel road the right solution to Bengaluru’s traffic crisis?

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has pitched a 190-km tunnel road as the only solution to Bengaluru’s traffic mess. He says it’s inevitable, given the high cost of land acquisition for road widening. His supporters call the tunnel road futuristic, a project that will cut travel time and ease pile-ups.

But critics warn it’s an Rs 85,000 crore gamble, one that could worsen congestion, lock the city deeper into car dependency, and serve a wealthy minority while leaving the rest of Bengaluru behind.

And let’s be honest: if you’ve ever lived in or even visited Bengaluru, you know traffic isn’t just an inconvenience here, it’s practically the city’s identity. In 2024, a global index even ranked Bengaluru the third-worst city in the world for traffic.

So when the government proposes something as massive underground tunnel road, of course, it grabs attention. But as with every mega-project, the devil is in the details.

And the real question: is this tunnel really the fix Bengaluru needs, or is it just another expensive distraction? 

And if not this, what are the alternate solutions?

Let me explain.