Although Adani Enterprises submitted the lowest bid, the proposal exceeds the Karnataka government's original cost estimates and will require Cabinet approval before work can proceed. The development has placed Shivakumar in a politically sensitive position, as approving the bid could trigger criticism over the Congress party's sustained attacks on industrialist Gautam Adani and the group's alleged proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government. Rejecting the bid, however, could delay a flagship infrastructure initiative closely associated with Shivakumar's vision for Bengaluru's future development.
The issue highlights a broader contradiction confronting the Congress party. While senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly made the Adani Group a central target of the party's national campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress-led state governments have continued to engage with the conglomerate on major investment and infrastructure projects.
In Telangana, the government led by Revanth Reddy has signed investment agreements worth more than Rs 12,400 crore with the Adani Group. In Kerala, Congress leaders have continued supporting the Adani-operated Vizhinjam Port project, originally awarded during the United Democratic Front government's tenure in 2015. The project is now undergoing expansion through fresh investments worth tens of thousands of crores under Chief Minister VD Satheesan. The success of the Vizhinjam Port project has also triggered a political contest among multiple stakeholders seeking credit for its achievements.
Karnataka now risks becoming the latest example of this political dilemma. Adani Enterprises has emerged as the preferred bidder for the proposed 17-kilometre Bengaluru tunnel road project, placing Shivakumar in a difficult position as he prepares to assume the state's highest office.
According to a report by The Economic Times, the Adani Group is already conducting surveys and soil testing at the project site while the bid remains pending before Shivakumar for initial administrative clearance.
Despite Rahul Gandhi's repeated criticism of the Adani Group, there appears to be little indication that the Congress leadership will pressure Shivakumar to reject the proposal, particularly given the party's acceptance of major Adani-linked investments in other Congress-governed states.
The tunnel road project has also faced sustained opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party and environmental activists. Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashok and Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya have repeatedly criticized the project and raised allegations against Shivakumar regarding its execution and priorities.
Ashok has described the proposed corridor as a "VIP lane," arguing that it would primarily benefit affluent commuters while doing little to address Bengaluru's broader traffic congestion challenges. He has urged the state government to prioritize expansion and acceleration of the Bengaluru Metro network, which he considers a more practical and inclusive solution.
Tejasvi Surya has similarly questioned the project's financial viability, characterizing it as an initiative designed "by the rich, for the rich." The Bharatiya Janata Party has also alleged that the Congress government is targeting public spaces, including Sankey Tank, Lalbagh, and Krishna Rao Park, for project alignment because acquiring private land would significantly increase costs.
Environmental experts have echoed concerns regarding the potential ecological consequences of large-scale tunnelling beneath Bengaluru. Specialists note that the city is built on hard-rock terrain characterized by ridges and valleys that influence natural watersheds and underground aquifers.
Experts warn that Bengaluru has already experienced substantial ecological stress due to rapid urbanization and deforestation. They caution that extensive tunnelling could disrupt underground aquifers, destabilize groundwater systems, increase flood risks, and affect the fragile geological balance supporting the city's ecosystem.
The planning and bidding processes for the tunnel road project were initiated while Shivakumar served as Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister. As he prepares to become Karnataka's 25th Chief Minister, the decision on Adani Enterprises' bid is emerging as a defining early test of his administration.
Approving the proposal could strengthen opposition claims that Congress's criticism of the Adani Group is political rhetoric rather than a matter of policy. Rejecting it, however, could jeopardize a flagship infrastructure project closely tied to Shivakumar's developmental agenda for Bengaluru. The outcome will extend beyond a single road project, shaping perceptions of how the Congress balances its national political messaging with the practical demands of governance, infrastructure development, and investment attraction.
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