Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Wednesday a historic overhaul of Bengaluru’s transport and urban framework. With an earmarked investment of roughly ₹1.5 lakh crore, the state will roll out a 40‑kilometre road tunnel, extend the metro to 500 km, and launch a series of flyover and business‑corridor projects designed to tame the city’s mounting traffic woes and real‑estate pressure.

Infrastructure Funding and Double‑FAR Policy

Shivakumar said the government will double the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Karnataka’s tier‑2 and tier‑3 towns, allowing developers to construct taller, multi‑storey buildings. This move is intended to relieve the demand pressure on Bengaluru’s sky‑high office rents while encouraging businesses to set up in smaller cities at lower land costs.

Metro Expansion: From 350 km to 500 km

Currently, Bengaluru’s metro spans about 350 km. The new target is to push that figure to 500 km by the next fiscal year, linking key commercial and residential hubs with fast, reliable public transit. The expansion is crucial as the city registers roughly 30,000 new vehicle registrations each month, a figure that threatens to outpace existing road capacity.

Tunnel, Flyover and Business Corridor Projects

To de‑congest the Hebbal corridor, a small‑scale tunnel road project has already begun. A larger 40‑km tunnel across the city is slated for cabinet approval, with an order expected imminently. Complementing these are a 44‑km double‑decker flyover, a 133‑km network of additional flyovers, and a 123‑km Bengaluru Business Corridor—all aimed at cutting travel times and improving freight movement.

Addressing Office Rent Inflation

Office rents in Bengaluru have surged far beyond the national average, while tier‑2 cities in the state enjoy rates less than half of the capital’s. By doubling the permissible FAR in those smaller cities, the government hopes to spur high‑rise construction, offering companies affordable office space and easing the rent crunch in Bengaluru.

Economic and Social Implications

Collectively, these infrastructure initiatives are projected to not only ease traffic bottlenecks but also boost Karnataka’s GDP. Enhanced connectivity will invigorate the IT sector and Global Capability Centres (GCCs), driving job creation and attracting foreign investment. Environmentally, the shift toward mass transit is expected to curb carbon emissions and reduce the city’s overall vehicular footprint.