Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To State On Plea Questioning Tender Issued For Bangalore Twin Tunnel Project

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the State government and other respondents on a public interest litigation seeking to quash the tender issued in regards to the construction of Bangalore Twin Tunnel Road.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi issued notice on the petition filed by 82-year-old Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra and others. The petitioner's counsel informed the court that the State is in the process of finalising the tender. To which the bench said, “Tender they can finalise, there is no question about it.”

On the remark made by the court that the petitioners had approached the court late, the counsel for petitioners submitted that they had to collect data under the Right to Information Act. Following which the court posted the matter for hearing on December 9.

The counsel for the petitioner sought an earlier hearing of the PIL. To which the bench said “This is a long project, there is no urgency. The project will last several years and if you are right that there is no impact assessment study then let them respond on whether they have conducted any studies and whether any studies are necessary, we will examine it.”

An underground road approximately at the cost of Rs 19,000 crore is proposed from Hebbal to Silk Board, and is claimed as a fix for Bengaluru's traffic problem.

The plea seeks to quash tender notification dated 14/07/2025, for the Bangalore twin tunnel road project, together with all consequential steps including publication of the RFP, Pre-bid proceedings, Bid submission, Bid evaluation and Proposed issuance of letter of award.

It further seeks to quash the feasibility study (December 2024) prepared by respondent no.7 (Altinok Consulting Engineering Pvt Ltd) and the detailed project report prepared by respondent no.6 (Rodic Consultants Pvt Ltd) and the so-called revised DPR dated February 2025 , for non compliance with mandatory legal standards, internal inconsistencies and non-application of mind.

It also seeks to quash the letter dated 26/11/2024 of the State Environment Impact assessment authority, Karnataka (annexure-g), purporting to opine that prior environmental clearance is not required for the project.

It further seeks to direct the respondents from taking any further steps in execution of the bangalore twin tunnel road project without conducting an environmental impact assessment, preparing mobility planning for underground road construction, preparing a list of specific cost of acquisition, preparing a report consisting of the present utility and drainage maps showing all existing water, storm water, drainage pipes/lines and a diversion plan for the same indicating if any existing pipes/layouts are being affected, and permissions, not limited to what is stated above, and absent such compliance, the project shall not be taken forward or acted upon in any manner whatsoever.

By way of interim relief it has sought to stay the tender.

Case Title: Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra & Others AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 28664/2025