Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has outlined an ambitious roadmap to tackle Bengaluru traffic congestion, with plans including a Bidadi township, elevated corridors, tunnel roads, and a major Bengaluru Metro expansion.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, presented the strategy in the Legislative Assembly during a discussion on Greater Bengaluru urban planning.

Bidadi township and AI city proposal

Shivakumar said the government has revived plans to develop a new township in Bidadi to reduce pressure on Bengaluru’s core areas. Earlier proposals for satellite townships at Nandagudi, Solur, and Bidadi were shelved, but the state has now decided to move forward with Bidadi due to adequate water availability.

He added that a proposal to develop an AI City on 8,000 acres will be placed before the Cabinet, signalling a push towards technology-driven urban expansion.

Infrastructure push: Elevated corridors, metro and tunnel roads

To ease traffic congestion, the government plans to launch a 109 km elevated corridor project and construct around 300 km of buffer roads along stormwater drains.

A double-decker road model, already implemented in Jayanagar, will be expanded to 40 km, with joint funding from the Bengaluru civic body and the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited.

The Namma Metro network is set for a major boost, with expansion plans to reach 350 km in the coming years, strengthening public transport connectivity across the city.

Shivakumar also stressed the importance of tunnel roads in Bengaluru, calling them a crucial long-term solution to traffic congestion. He said construction costs are estimated at ₹700–800 crore per kilometre, relatively lower compared to other states.

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Waste management and urban challenges

Addressing Bengaluru waste management issues, the Deputy Chief Minister said the current government has streamlined contracts from 89 packages to 33. Waste disposal plans have been finalised for two locations, including NICE land and an existing site at Doddaballapura.

Bengaluru growth and traffic pressure

Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Shivakumar noted that Bengaluru’s population has grown from 70 lakh to over 1.04 crore, with the number of vehicles rising to 1.30 crore.

He pointed out that roads account for only 8 per cent of the city’s land area, compared to around 16 per cent in other major Indian cities, making road expansion difficult.

Business corridor and investment plans

The government is also pushing the Bengaluru Business Corridor project, with 80 per cent of land acquisition for the first phase already approved. Tenders are expected to be floated soon.

Overall, infrastructure projects worth ₹1.5 lakh crore are being planned to transform Bengaluru into a world-class city, with financial support including ₹26,000 crore offered by HUDCO.

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Shivakumar also reiterated the need for a second airport in Bengaluru’s southern region to support the city’s rapid growth.

Despite the challenges, he said Bengaluru is often unfairly singled out, noting that other major cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi also face significant congestion issues.

IANS