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MP Tejasvi Surya slams tunnel project as elitist, questions DPR credibility and calls for better public transport.
The tunnel is expected to reduce travel time from 90 minutes to 45, covering 16.6 km with a toll of Rs 330. (Representative Image) (Photo: Construction World)
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has taken a strong stand against the state’s ambitious underground tunnel road project, calling it “unscientific, elitist and misleading.”
The Rs 18,000-crore initiative, aimed at easing congestion between Hebbal and Silk Board, has sparked outrage for allegedly benefiting only the rich while ignoring the city’s real transport needs.
Who benefits from this tunnel road?
Surya criticised the project, saying it primarily caters to wealthy neighbourhoods like Sadashivanagar and Koramangala. “This is a tunnel for the privileged, funded by ordinary citizens,” he said, accusing the Congress-led government of bypassing mass transport solutions in favour of a high-cost toll road, as per The Indian Express.
What’s wrong with the planning?
The MP questioned the credibility of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), alleging that parts of it were copy-pasted from studies meant for Malegaon and Nashik—cities not even in Karnataka. He also raised red flags over the background of firms involved in the feasibility study, pointing out past blacklisting and scams.
T-31 to #YellowLineOpenMadiHeld a press conference on the systemic destruction of urban mobility by the Congress Government and the issues related to the Tunnel Road Project.
Highlighted that the Red Line of the Metro, which follows the same route, is a more viable and… pic.twitter.com/xP8CZkiIGe
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 14, 2025
Did the project skip mandatory approvals?
According to Surya, the proposal moved forward without a nod from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), violating Section 19 of its Act. He demanded that the project be shelved and urged the government to focus on finishing long-pending infrastructure works like the Ejipura flyover.
What does the government say?
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar defended the plan, stating that global tenders would be floated soon. The 16.6-km tunnel is expected to reduce travel time from 90 to 45 minutes and will include intermediate ramps at Mekhri Circle, Racecourse and Lalbagh. Toll charges are estimated at Rs 330 for one-way use.
At what cost?
With a 30-year BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) model in place, private players will recover their investments through tolls, raising questions about affordability and access.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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