The proposed 16-km underground tunnel highway between Hebbal and Silk Board junction in Bengaluru may threaten the structural security of Namma Metro tunnels and worsen site visitors congestion except main design and mitigation measures are carried out, in keeping with the Karnataka Directorate of City Land Transport (DULT).
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) submitted the feasibility research report of the proposed north-south hall for evaluation and approval by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) in July 2024. The DULT, which serves because the secretariat to the BMLTA, carried out a technical evaluation of the proposal, following which a number of observations have been documented for the BBMP’s consideration.
On structural security, the DULT has mentioned, “The proposed alignment intersects with a number of Metro strains and will trigger stress interference which may influence the Metro tunnel’s structural efficiency.”
The evaluation highlights a number of areas the place the underground tunnel will both cross or run in shut proximity to the alignments of Metro Part 2 and Part 3A. These areas embrace Marigowda Highway, Dairy Circle, NIMHANS, Wilson Backyard, Guttahalli Fundamental Highway, eighth Fundamental Highway in Sadashivanagar, Company Circle, KR Circle, and Palace Highway.
Based on consultants, stress interference on this context refers back to the modifications in underground stress and stability that may happen when a brand new tunnel is constructed near an current Metro tunnel.
For instance, at Marigowda Highway, the DULT’s evaluation states, “the proposed alignment of the underground tunnel intersects with the proposed Metro Part 3A (Hebbal–Sarjapur line), which can trigger stress interference which may influence the metro tunnel’s structural efficiency.”
At Dairy Circle, the proposed alignment of the underground tunnel intersects with the proposed Metro Part 2 (Gottigere–Nagawara line), which can trigger stress interference and influence the metro tunnel’s structural efficiency, the evaluation says.
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Equally, the DULT flags stress interference and lateral displacement to current and upcoming Metro networks close to NIMHANS, Wilson Backyard, Guttahalli Fundamental Highway, Sadashivanagar, Company Circle and KR Circle.
Tunnel highway to compound site visitors points, says evaluation
The evaluation additionally notes a number of site visitors points the tunnel, proposed for four-wheelers solely, may create.
On Jayamahal Fundamental Highway, the company warns, “Ramp building, with out endeavor land acquisition and provision of correct weaving space previous to the ramp, will result in choking of Jayamahal Highway.”
In Sadashivanagar, accommodating an exit ramp on the prevailing eighth Fundamental Highway will not be possible, as it can trigger highway congestion and extreme site visitors delays, the evaluation says.
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For Palace Highway and Basaveshwara Circle, the evaluation cautions, “The feasibility report ought to assess the extra site visitors that will come to the junction if the tunnel ramp have been constructed and if the junction could be able to dealing with the extra site visitors with out impacting the encompassing roads.”
“At KR Circle, the proposed exit ramp will result in extra site visitors to the already congested KR Circle, exacerbating congestion and creating merging conflicts… such influence evaluation has not been carried out,” the evaluation states.
Close to Company Circle, the evaluation signifies that site visitors exiting from the tunnel highway will enhance the site visitors load at close by junctions, similar to Espresso Day Junction and Queens Junction.
On Siddapura Highway close to Ashoka Pillar, the company notes that there will not be ample width to accommodate the proposed entry ramp and weaving space and that the influence of the proposed ramp on Ashoka Pillar Circle, contemplating the extra site visitors that would want to go by the circle, must be assessed.
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As for Marigowda Highway, it says, “the proposal to accommodate an exit ramp must be examined contemplating the width out there, influence on current site visitors and influence on close by junctions like thirteenth Cross Highway… the presence of an exit ramp will worsen the state of affairs.”
“Sizing of the ramp must be decided primarily based on scientific demand evaluation… in any other case, the tunnel proposal will solely create extra inconvenience to individuals and result in a extra chaotic site visitors state of affairs at floor degree.”
The evaluation states that the proposed venture doesn’t align with the aims and targets of the accredited Complete Mobility Plan (CMP) for Bengaluru. Additional, it says that the venture doesn’t align both with the BBMP’s Local weather Motion Plan or Nationwide City Transport Coverage (NUTP). Regardless of a number of famous discrepancies, Bengaluru Sensible Infrastructure Restricted has proceeded with international tenders for the tunnel highway venture.