Hebbal's 2.2-km Tunnel Road Awarded to Rithwik: A North Bengaluru Buyer's Real Timeline

On 13 May 2026, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said a 2.2 km six-lane tunnel road near Hebbal Junction had been awarded to Rithwik Tunnel Company, with a completion target of 18 months. For North Bengaluru buyers who have heard years of tunnel announcements, this one is different in a useful way: it has a contractor and a deadline. But it is also easy to confuse with the far larger twin tunnel, and getting that distinction right matters for how much you should pay.

The short answer. A 2.2 km six-lane tunnel near Hebbal Junction was awarded to Rithwik Tunnel Company on 13 May 2026, with an 18-month completion target, alongside a 1.7 km elevated corridor near Mekhri Circle (The News Minute). This is separate from the Adani-led 16.74 km Hebbal to Silk Board twin tunnel, whose cabinet decision is pending. A short tunnel eases one junction but does not transform the corridor, so do not overpay for it.

What exactly was awarded near Hebbal on May 13?

DK Shivakumar announced that a 2.2 km six-lane tunnel road near Hebbal Junction, passing close to the University of Agricultural Sciences campus, had been awarded to Rithwik Tunnel Company with an 18-month completion target. Coverage of the Bengaluru infrastructure and housing announcements from mid-May 2026 describes the tunnel award alongside a 1.7 km four-lane elevated corridor near Mekhri Circle, with foundation-stone ceremonies expected later in May. These are discrete, near-term works aimed at easing specific congestion points in the Hebbal and Mekhri Circle area.

How is this different from the Adani twin tunnel?

This is the distinction that matters most. The 2.2 km Hebbal tunnel is a small, specific junction fix with an 18-month timeline. It is entirely separate from the Adani-led 16.74 km Hebbal to Silk Board twin tunnel, a far larger and more transformative north-south project with a bid reported around Rs 22,267 crore and a cabinet decision still pending. A buyer who conflates the two might assume a corridor-changing tunnel is imminent when, in fact, only a short junction tunnel has been awarded. The big twin tunnel remains a separate, unconfirmed proposition.

What does an 18-month timeline mean for nearby prices?

An 18-month target, if met, means the Hebbal junction tunnel could be operational by roughly late 2027, easing one of North Bengaluru's notorious congestion points. For nearby prices, the realistic effect is a modest, localised improvement rather than a dramatic uplift, because a single 2.2 km tunnel addresses one bottleneck rather than reshaping the corridor's overall connectivity. A buyer should expect the benefit to show up as smoother local traffic and a small sentiment boost, not as a justification for a large price premium on properties in the vicinity.

Which micro-markets benefit from the Hebbal junction fix?

The properties most affected are those whose daily commute runs through or near Hebbal Junction, including pockets along the Bellary Road corridor and the immediate Hebbal catchment. Easing the junction helps residents heading toward the airport, the ORR or the city centre. The benefit fades with distance from the junction, so a property several kilometres away gains little directly. For a buyer, the practical step is to map whether a specific property's routine routes actually pass through the junction being improved, rather than assuming a blanket North Bengaluru benefit.

How much disruption should buyers expect during construction?

Tunnel and elevated construction near a major junction brings 18 months or more of dust, diversions and noise. Factor that disruption window into any near-term purchase or rental decision.

Is this enough to justify a price premium?

On its own, no. A 2.2 km junction tunnel is a welcome local improvement, but it does not carry the corridor-wide impact that would justify a meaningful price premium. If a seller or developer is pricing in a tunnel premium, a buyer should ask precisely which tunnel they mean and what evidence supports the uplift, because the answer often conflates this small junction fix with the much larger, unconfirmed twin tunnel. The honest stance is to treat the 2.2 km tunnel as a minor positive, not a reason to pay materially more.

How should I time a purchase around it?

Because the tunnel's direct impact is modest, it should not be the primary driver of purchase timing. A buyer with sound reasons to buy in North Bengaluru, such as proximity to the airport, employment or metro, can proceed on those fundamentals, treating the tunnel as a small bonus. Those buying mainly on the tunnel's promise should wait to see the foundation stone laid and construction begin, since announced awards can slip. Either way, the separate twin-tunnel cabinet decision is the bigger development to monitor for genuine corridor change.

Buyer checklist for the Hebbal tunnel area in 2026

1. Confirm the tunnel alignment relative to your target property.
2. Factor an 18-month-plus construction-disruption window.
3. Do not pay a full tunnel premium for a 2.2 km stretch.
4. Check the broader corridor's metro and ORR factors.
5. Verify the foundation-stone and construction start date.
6. Assess rental impact during construction.
7. Monitor the separate Adani twin-tunnel cabinet decision.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hebbal tunnel the same as the big twin tunnel?
No. This is a 2.2 km six-lane tunnel near Hebbal Junction, awarded to Rithwik Tunnel Company with an 18-month target, announced 13 May 2026. It is separate from the Adani-led 16.74 km Hebbal to Silk Board twin tunnel, a far larger project whose cabinet decision was still pending.

Will the Hebbal tunnel raise property prices nearby?
It improves one congested junction, which helps local traffic, but a 2.2 km stretch is not a corridor transformer. Expect a modest, localised benefit rather than a step-change in prices. Buy for the broader North Bengaluru fundamentals, not for this single tunnel alone.

When will the Hebbal tunnel be done?
The target is 18 months from the May 2026 award, which points to roughly late 2027 if the timeline holds. Infrastructure projects commonly slip, so verify the foundation-stone date and monitor progress rather than assuming the 18-month schedule is firm.

Should I buy now for the Hebbal tunnel?
Buy for the broader North Bengaluru fundamentals, the airport, metro and employment growth, not for this single 2.2 km stretch. If a seller is charging a tunnel premium, ask exactly what it is based on, because a short junction fix rarely justifies a meaningful price increase on its own.

Last updated 31 May 2026. PropNewz Team.