The State Cabinet of Bangalore on Thursday approved a new tunnel and elevated corridor project to ease traffic between Hebbal Junction and Mehkri Circle. The project will cost ₹2,215 crore. It is different from the ongoing Hebbal-Silk Board twin tunnel project, and it will cause changes to that plan. Previously, the Congress government tried to build a steel flyover on Ballari Road, but strong opposition from civic groups stopped it. Now, the Bengaluru Traffic Police suggested this new project. They said the long twin tunnel won't allow two-wheelers and autorickshaws, so it won’t fully solve congestion near Ganganagar, Sanjay Nagar, and R.T. Nagar. The new project will build a three-lane short twin tunnel from Hebbal Junction to Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University (KVAFSU) for 2.27 km. From KVAFSU, an elevated corridor will lead to Mehkri Circle. A senior Urban Development Department official said, “Mehkri Circle would be developed into a rotary interchange.” The flyover from KVAFSU would be one of several flyovers ending at Mehkri Circle. “We are planning other flyovers which will come and converge at the circle,” the official added. Due to this, the Hebbal-Silk Board twin tunnel project will now have its planned up-ramps and down-ramps shifted away from Mehkri Circle. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will handle the new project and pay for it from its own funds. Earlier, Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE) estimated the cost at ₹1,325 crore, but the inclusion of the flyover has raised the cost to ₹2,215 crore. This tunnel-flyover plan is aimed at solving local traffic problems effectively and turning Mehkri Circle into a major traffic hub.