Bengaluru | August 25, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The New Indian Express)
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani met Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar at the Chief Minister’s residence on August 23 as the state considers the next steps for Bengaluru’s proposed north-south tunnel road.
Adani Enterprises has emerged as the lowest, or L1, bidder for the proposed 16.75-kilometre Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel under Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited.
The Karnataka government has estimated the project cost at Rs 17,698 crore. The company’s bid was reported to be above the government’s estimate, and a formal contract had not been awarded at the time of the available report.
The project is intended to create an underground north-south route through Bengaluru and provide an alternative for traffic moving between Hebbal and Silk Board.
Supporters view tunnelling as a way to add road capacity where surface land acquisition is difficult. The proposal has also attracted scrutiny because of its cost, engineering complexity and potential implications for the city’s wider transport priorities.
The meeting between the corporate chairman and the head of the state government does not by itself establish any procurement irregularity. However, its timing increases the importance of transparency while the bid remains under consideration.
Before an award, the government should disclose the evaluated bid value, reasons for accepting any price above estimate, financing and revenue model, risk allocation, independent technical review, environmental and geological assessment, construction schedule and comparison with mass-transit alternatives.
The formal award and contract conditions will determine whether the proposal moves from bidding to execution. Given the project’s scale, public scrutiny is likely to focus on value for money, competitive neutrality, traffic benefits and the state’s long-term financial exposure.