Can I Stop People from Using Cars? — DK Shivakumar Hits Back at Tejasvi Surya’s ‘Tunnel Road’ Opposition, Says Bengaluru’s Traffic Needs Practical, Not Political, Solutions
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has delivered a strong rebuttal to Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya’s objections to the city’s proposed Tunnel Road Project, asserting that “mere suggestions won’t solve traffic unless people themselves change their habits.”
Responding to Surya’s presentation titled “Alternative Mobility Vision for Bengaluru”, the Deputy CM said the government welcomes suggestions but emphasized that the challenge of decongesting Bengaluru requires both infrastructure investment and behavioural change.
“Can I stop people from using cars?” Shivakumar asked pointedly.
“Today, every husband and wife travels separately in their own car. Children go to school in cars. This is our social obligation now — everyone wants a vehicle for status. Tell me, can I stop that?”
The minister said the issue goes beyond tunnels and traffic engineering — it’s about urban lifestyle and social prestige. “Everyone says ‘use the Metro, take the bus’, but in reality, people prefer cars because it gives them a sense of comfort and identity. Without changing this mindset, no city can solve congestion,” he explained.
On Tejasvi Surya’s remarks opposing the tunnel concept and suggesting greater Metro expansion, Shivakumar said the government had no objection to increasing Metro connectivity but stressed that funding must come from the Central Government.
“Tejasvi Surya says — add more Metro lines. We agree. But where is the money? Only 10–12% of the project funds are being given by the Centre. Let him first get us the money from Delhi. Then we will build all the Metro lines he wants,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Shivakumar said that while Surya had presented a PowerPoint with “several theoretical ideas,” it lacked financial and logistical clarity. “I have asked my officers to study his presentation. But Bengaluru’s traffic problem is not going to be solved through slides and speeches — it needs coordinated execution through BMLTA (Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority),” he added.
He also said Surya’s idea of allowing private players to operate smaller feeder buses was under review. “We already have proposals to add feeder routes under BMLTA and BMTC. But to implement it, we need strong public and private collaboration,” he clarified.
Taking a swipe at the BJP MP, the Deputy CM added,
“He keeps giving suggestions — one every morning. But infrastructure doesn’t come from suggestions, it comes from funding. If he can get more funds from the Centre, we will happily implement his plans. Empty suggestions won’t build Bengaluru.”
Shivakumar reaffirmed that the government’s approach is to adopt a balanced and multimodal mobility plan, combining Metro, suburban rail, and BRTS corridors, rather than rejecting any single option outright. “We are ready to explore every idea that helps decongest the city, but we must look at practicality and financial feasibility,” he said.
Emphasizing long-term planning, he added that Bengaluru’s growth demands shared responsibility from both citizens and policymakers. “The government can build roads and Metros, but if people refuse to change their habits, traffic will only grow. This is a social issue as much as a transport issue,” he concluded.
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