BJP leaders protest against Bengaluru tunnel road project

BJP leaders in Karnataka on Sunday carried out a signature campaign and a silent protest at the Lalbagh botanical garden here, against the state government’s proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru, calling it a “VIP corridor”.
The protest led by the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka and Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, under the slogan “Protect Bengaluru – Stop tunnel road”, was also participated by several party legislators from the city.
The leaders also interacted with the public, morning walkers at the Lalbagh regarding the proposed project.
BJP leaders and other activists have raised concerns over the possible environmental impact of the project on Lalbagh, and have said it will clearly be a disaster for Bengaluru.
Leaders have alleged that in Lalbagh, 6 acres of land will be acquired for the project.
Reacting to BJP’s signature campaign, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru development said he was ready to constitute a committee on the tunnel road under the leadership of Ashoka, and its members will be selected as per his recommendations, “let them give solutions.”
“This (project) is not my property or anyone else’s, it is for the public good. I have studied everything, I’m not a fool to destroy Lalbagh. They (BJP) are doing politics, doesn’t the metro project have tunnels. They don’t want development …..opposition is a different matter, let them give suggestions and solutions, I’m ready to examine,” he said.
He said that he too can give a call for a signature campaign using the Congress party organisation, while BJP can’t do anything without RSS. “Without RSS they (BJP) are zero,” he added.
The proposed 16.75-km tunnel road will connect Silk Board and Hebbal, at an estimated cost of about Rs 17,800 crore.
Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters here, Ashoka said, this is not a twin tunnel road for citizens, it is a “VIP corridor”.
“The tunnel road project will not benefit the middle class, lower middle class poor, which constitutes over 90 per cent of Bengaluru’s population. Two wheelers are not allowed on the tunnel road, only cars are allowed. 70 per cent of vehicles in the city are two wheelers. It is a VIP project. Bengaluru corporation will have to take a Rs 8,000 crore loan for this project, a tender has been called for this,” he said.
Noting that the project will have negative effect on Bengaluru’s economy, the Leader of Opposition said, the project will come 130 ft below the ground, no permission has been taken from the geological survey department for the project which passes through Lalbagh, which is a monument.
Questioning whether the tunnel road will fix Bengaluru’s traffic issues, he said, “we are not opposed to development. First fix the potholes on the roads above the ground, which have created a world record of sorts. What happened to the CM’s deadline to fix all potholes in the city by October 31? As per officials still 25,000 potholes are to be filled.”
Ashoka also raised questions on the feasibility of the project, and also termed it as a “costly” project.
Advising Shivakumar to go for expanding the Metro network in the city instead of tunnel roads, he said, permissions from 120 departments are required for tunnel roads, but none of them have come. “Has the tender been called without permission for the sake of commission? Is this tunnel road project for funding to Bihar or Tamil Nadu polls?”
MP Surya termed the tunnel road project as — by the rich and for the rich, and financially unviable and said, BJP as a party is opposing this project on behalf of the people of Bengaluru.
“Only 12 per cent people use cars in Bengaluru and this project only helps them that too by spending Rs 20,000 per month on toll. Various lakes and parks have been identified as entry and exits for this tunnel road project.
Officials have no answers to questions on whether they have taken environmental clearance or clearance from the Geological survey, hydrological survey or assessment, but they have called tender,” he said.
Noting that the project will make Bengaluru and Karnataka government “bankrupt”, the MP said, “this project is so financially unviable that in the DPR itself it is said that Rs 7,500 crore viability gap funding will be given to the contractors. Where will this amount come from? by taking a loan.”
He suggested the government look into expanding the metro, providing good roads and footpaths, while comparing that the estimated cost for tunnel road could fund over 300 km of metro construction, as he highlighted that public transport, which carries 60,000 commuters per hour (against the tunnel’s projected 1,800 vehicles), is the viable solution.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar, slamming Surya for his opposition to the tunnel road project said, he is suggesting suburban trains, let him get it done from the central government. He is also talking about implementation of BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System), but where is the place in Bengaluru?
Responding to a question, the Deputy CM chided Surya by calling a “big leader” with “high talent”.