Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) is preparing to issue global tenders for the North-South twin tunnel corridor, which will connect Hebbal and Silk Board. This initiative follows government approval for a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model that includes 40% Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for the project. If all goes according to plan, the tunnels are expected to be completed by 2029-30, with an estimated toll of ₹19 per kilometer.

The corridor will span 16.74 kilometers and is projected to cost ₹17,780 crore, with VGF amounting to ₹9,303 crore. The State Cabinet has agreed to guarantee a loan of ₹19,000 crore for this funding. To enhance bidding interest after previous unsuccessful attempts with the Peripheral Ring Road project, B-SMILE plans to divide the North-South corridor into two segments of approximately 8.4 kilometers each.

Construction will proceed simultaneously at both ends of the tunnels using at least eight tunnel boring machines capable of digging up to 2 kilometers per year. The completion deadline set for this ambitious project is approximately 50 months from the tender's issuance. Toll collection will be automated through number plate recognition technology once operational.

Original article

The text on Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited's (B-SMILE) plan to issue global tenders for the North-South twin tunnel corridor presents a plethora of biases and manipulative language. One of the most striking aspects is the economic and class-based bias that favors wealth and corporations. The text states that the project will cost ₹17,780 crore, with VGF amounting to ₹9,303 crore, and that the State Cabinet has agreed to guarantee a loan of ₹19,000 crore. This framing creates a narrative that implies the project is financially viable and necessary for economic growth, without critically examining the potential consequences for low-income communities or small businesses.

Furthermore, the use of euphemisms such as "Viability Gap Funding" (VGF) masks the true nature of this funding mechanism. VGF is essentially a form of government subsidy that allows private companies to take on projects with high upfront costs. This language obscures agency by implying that private companies are taking on financial risks when in fact they are being subsidized by taxpayers' money. The text also reinforces binary thinking by framing success solely in terms of financial viability and completion deadlines, without considering alternative metrics such as environmental impact or social equity.

The text also exhibits linguistic and semantic bias through its emotionally charged language. The use of words like "ambitious" and "smart infrastructure" creates a positive emotional association with the project, while phrases like "unsuccessful attempts" with previous projects create a sense of urgency and necessity around this initiative. This type of language manipulation aims to sway public opinion in favor of the project without providing balanced information.

Structural and institutional bias is also present in this text through its implicit defense of systems of authority. The State Cabinet's decision to guarantee a loan is presented as an unproblematic aspect of project implementation, without questioning how this decision was made or who benefits from it. Similarly, B-SMILE's plans to divide the corridor into two segments are presented as necessary for enhancing bidding interest without examining whether this division serves any other purpose besides facilitating corporate interests.

Selection and omission bias are evident in how certain facts are included or excluded from consideration. For instance, there is no mention of potential environmental impacts or community concerns about noise pollution or displacement caused by construction activities. Additionally, there is no discussion about alternative transportation solutions or whether these tunnels will actually alleviate traffic congestion in Bengaluru.

Confirmation bias is apparent when considering assumptions about technological advancements being inherently beneficial for society without question or evidence-based critique. Phrases like "number plate recognition technology once operational" reinforce an uncritical acceptance that automation will solve problems related to toll collection rather than exploring other options.

Framing bias can be observed through story structure where B-SMILE's efforts are portrayed as heroic endeavors aimed at improving infrastructure while neglecting broader systemic issues affecting urban development such as inequality access disparities etc..