BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has launched a scathing attack on the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road, calling it an exorbitantly expensive project that prioritizes cars over people and threatens city parks.

  • MP Tejasvi Surya called the 18-km tunnel road the 'costliest in the world' at ₹1,400 crore per km.
  • Allegations made that the project serves real estate interests rather than public transport.
  • Concerns raised over the potential loss of 6 acres of Lalbagh land.
  • Claims of using incorrect traffic data (Malegaon) in the project report.

In a high-stakes political confrontation, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has criticized the Karnataka government's proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru. Speaking at the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, Surya described the 18-km project as a fiscal disaster that will fail to alleviate the city's chronic congestion issues.

Surya highlighted a massive disparity in efficiency, citing an Indian Institute of Science (IISc) simulation. He argued that while the proposed tunnel would only accommodate approximately 600 cars per hour, the same investment in a metro system could transport 60,000 people per hour in the same direction. "Should you be building infrastructure to transport 600 cars, or 60,000 people? It’s common sense," he remarked.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the debate over Bengaluru's infrastructure reflects a global struggle between car-centric urban planning and sustainable mass transit. The decision to prioritize expensive tunnels over expanded metro networks could dictate the city's mobility and environmental health for decades.

This project is not a transportation project; this is an out-and-out real estate project.

The MP further questioned the integrity of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), alleging that it erroneously utilized traffic data from Malegaon in Maharashtra instead of local Bengaluru statistics. He also raised alarms regarding the Karnataka Parks Preservation Act amendments, suggesting that the project could lead to the encroachment of vital green spaces like Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.

Surya's critique extended to the financial motives behind the project, alleging it is designed to generate revenue to fund the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections. He compared the attempt to solve traffic by adding more roads to an "obese man trying to lose weight by increasing the size of his belt."

Did You Know?: Urban planners suggest that increasing road capacity often leads to 'induced demand,' where more roads simply attract more cars, worsening traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the estimated cost of the Bengaluru tunnel road?
The project is estimated to cost between ₹39,000 and ₹40,000 crore, making it roughly ₹1,400 crore per kilometer.

2. Why is Lalbagh mentioned in this controversy?
Surya alleges the project requires acquiring six acres of Lalbagh land for the tunnel and associated commercial complexes.