Bengaluru, January 10: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has landed in a major controversy over its ambitious ₹16,000 crore tunnel road project intended to ease Bengaluru’s infamous traffic woes. The project, touted as a game-changer, seeks to connect Hebbal Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board Junction via an 18-kilometer underground road, cutting travel time from 90 minutes to just 20 minutes.
However, a series of revelations about errors in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), environmental risks, and strong public opposition have thrown the project into turmoil, leaving the BBMP scrambling to defend its credibility.
Faulty DPR Raises Questions
The DPR, prepared by Rodic Consultants Private Limited for ₹9.5 crore, has come under scrutiny for glaring errors. Shockingly, the executive summary contained traffic data from Malegaon and Nashik in Maharashtra instead of Bengaluru. This blunder has cast doubts on the authenticity of the report and raised concerns over the thoroughness of the project’s planning.
BBMP Engineer-in-Chief B.S. Prahalad acknowledged the error but emphasized the report was prepared in a record time of three months. “We aim to complete the project without further delays despite the challenges,” he said.
Environmental Alarm Bells
Environmentalists and urban planners have raised red flags over the project, citing several ecological and urban risks:
Groundwater Disruption: The tunneling process could disturb shallow aquifers, impacting water flow and increasing flood risks.
Loss of Biodiversity: Construction may harm local flora and fauna, threatening the city’s fragile ecosystem.
Carbon Emissions: The project’s construction phase is expected to generate significant emissions, worsening air quality.
Soil and Drainage Issues: Experts warn of destabilized soil structures and disrupted drainage patterns, leading to urban flooding.
Urban Heat Island Effect: Extensive use of concrete could contribute to temperature increases in the city.
Public Backlash
The tunnel road project has faced severe opposition from citizen groups and environmentalists. Social media platforms have been abuzz with calls to scrap the project in favor of sustainable alternatives like public transport infrastructure. Protests and online campaigns have highlighted the environmental risks and demanded more eco-friendly solutions to Bengaluru’s traffic problems.
BBMP’s Stand
Despite the criticism, BBMP officials remain committed to the project. They argue that the tunnel road is essential to address Bengaluru’s traffic congestion and plan to address the DPR errors while proceeding with the project.
“We understand the concerns but are confident that the project will benefit the city in the long term,” Prahalad stated.
Conclusion
As Bengaluru debates the pros and cons of the tunnel road project, the controversy highlights the need for transparency and ecological responsibility in urban planning. Whether the BBMP can overcome these hurdles and gain public trust remains to be seen. Meanwhile, citizens continue to push for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to the city’s traffic crisis.
