Bengaluru, Sep 4 (PTI) BJP MPs from Bengaluru on Friday opposed the Karnataka government’s proposed tunnel road project, alleging that it was unnecessary, lacked adequate scientific and technical studies and had led to the dilution of safeguards for the city’s parks and lakes.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi, and Central MP P C Mohan addressed a joint press meet on Friday in this regard.
Surya said the state government appeared convinced that there was a “Rs 40,000 crore treasure at the end of the Tunnel Road”, and claimed that nothing else explained its “obsession” with the project.
Long and Short Tunnel Roads “weakened three important protections Bengaluru fought decades to build,” Surya said.
He said the Parks Act was amended to allow diversion of five per cent of park land, while the Karnataka Tank Conservation Act was amended to reduce the lake buffer from 30 metres to three metres, facilitating the acquisition of 3.5 acres of Hebbal Lake for the Short Tunnel project.
The long tunnel road refers to the proposed 17-km tunnel road project connecting Hebbal and Central Silk Board. The project requires around six acres of Lalbagh land temporarily and one acre permanently, according to sources.
Surya also alleged that Section 19 of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) Act was amended, weakening independent scientific scrutiny of the projects and undoing nearly two decades of citizen activism for coordinated urban transport planning.
“For two unnecessary projects, the government has weakened protection of our parks, lakes and water security, and compromised scientific transport planning,” he said.
He said citizen pressure had forced the government to review the Parks Act amendment and demanded that the Tank Conservation Act and the authority of the BMLTA be restored.
Shobha Karandlaje demanded that the government first conduct a comprehensive study of Bengaluru’s traffic before proceeding with the tunnel road in its present form.
“The tunnel road in its present form is not required. First study Bengaluru’s traffic congestion,” she said.
Karandlaje questioned the escalation in the estimated cost of the first package of the tunnel road project from Rs 5,484 crore to Rs 10,734 crore, an increase of nearly 96 per cent. The second package is estimated at Rs 11,263 crore, she said.
She pointed out that the government had earlier issued a circular stating that the tender premium should not exceed five per cent.
The Union minister also claimed that the project could result in an alleged “Rs 10,000 crore loot”. She also alleged that the Congress government was attempting to “loot Karnataka’s money”.
Karandlaje said the High Court had sought a technical report and alleged that tenders had been awarded in haste without adequate preparation or scientific studies.
“How will safety be ensured if the Metro and tunnel road run together? What study have you conducted?” she asked.
Appealing to the government not to “destroy Bengaluru” during its remaining period in office, she said, “Today is Krishna Janmashtami. We pray to God.” Karandlaje also said the government had temporarily withdrawn the Parks Bill following opposition from Bengaluru residents and a large-scale campaign by senior citizens. She referred to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s statement that the government would seek public opinion before bringing the legislation back to the Assembly.
She also criticised Home Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that he had said the government would reintroduce the legislation without changing even a full stop.
On lake conservation, Karandlaje alleged that water bodies had already been encroached upon and converted into layouts and complexes for real estate development.
“This is why Bengaluru becomes like a lake whenever it rains,” she said.
“We do not need you to take away our parks and lakes and turn them into real estate. You have only one year left; do not destroy Karnataka,” Karandlaje said, accusing the government of being driven by a “lust for money” and alleging that water, electricity and garbage bills were being increased every month.
Mohan alleged that while the Congress “fights with Adani in Delhi”, it had “befriended Adani in Karnataka” and awarded the tunnel project to the group.
He said the government had temporarily withdrawn the Parks Bill due to pressure from the BJP’s campaign but asserted that the issue was not over and urged citizens to continue their opposition.
Mohan said investment in Metro infrastructure would benefit thousands of commuters, whereas a tunnel road would benefit only a limited number of people. PTI KSU ADB
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