Tunnel Road Near Lalbagh May Get an Alternative Plan: CM Shivakumar Cites Large Pit as BJP’s Tejasvi Surya Opposes Tunnel Plans
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar speaking to the media near Mekhri Circle in Bengaluru on Monday, with BDA chairman and Shanthi Nagar MLA N.A. Haris. Image: Video screenshot
Bengaluru: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Monday that the tunnel road near Lalbagh may need an alternative arrangement, after he inspected the site from a helicopter and found a large pit in the area the tunnel is to pass through. The announcement comes as BJP’s Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has been opposing the state’s tunnel plans.
“I recently inspected the site related to the tunnel road project while travelling in a helicopter. There is a large pit in the area near Lalbagh through which the tunnel road passes, and there is a difference between where the rock is and where the tunnel emerges. In this background, officials have been told to prepare an alternative arrangement so that there is no problem,” Shivakumar said.
Shivakumar attributed the change to site conditions. He did not name Surya. He was speaking to the media near Mekhri Circle and Town Hall on Monday.
Surya said on November 8 that the state’s Tunnel Road plans threaten the progress and alignment of the proposed Red Line and compromise integrated public transport planning (read more). On October 11 he urged the BDA to scrap the ₹1,350-crore Hebbal short tunnel, citing the felling of 1,128 trees, flooding risk around Hebbal Lake and the dropped Veterinary College Metro station (read more).
Asked about the proposed elevated corridor and tunnel road near Mekhri Circle, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “Whether we build a tunnel road or an elevated corridor, the opposition objects. They always think negatively. If Bengaluru’s traffic congestion is to be eased, alternative routes must be provided. Either the road has to be built above or a tunnel has to be built underground. Can the road be widened by clearing buildings?”
“Land belonging to the Defence Department has been sought for road widening in some parts of Bengaluru. I have already requested the Defence Minister to give the land at the corner near Mekhri Circle. If that land is obtained, a major change can be brought to the traffic system there. A rotary circle and ring arrangement will be made, with a circle within a circle. Those going left will go left and those going right will go right. Along with allowing traffic on the upper level, a tunnel road will also be used where required,” Chief Minister Shivakumar explained.
“Traffic will not be completely stopped at any time during the work. The traffic police have already examined the plan. The BDA chairman also recently inspected the site. I too have asked them to visit the spot and check in which parts congestion is increasing. During the work, only some large vehicles and goods vehicles will be held back temporarily at specified times. Traffic of other vehicles will not be stopped,” Chief Minister Shivakumar clarified.
“Alternative roads are being developed so that the public is not inconvenienced by the work. This will cost about Rs 9 crore. The BDA is already preparing to take up the development of the surrounding connecting roads,” Chief Minister Shivakumar said.
Minor problems are natural during development work. Asked how he would take people into confidence, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “There is no need to convince those who oppose. A section of people seems to have decided to oppose whatever I do. Did they do any such work when the BJP was in power? Have the JD(S) people done any such development work? Some have decided that whatever D.K. Shivakumar does must be opposed. They are opposing everything.”
Speaking about the opposition parties’ objections, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “It has become as if the job of opposition parties is to oppose. They oppose development, they oppose every single work. They cannot bear the pace of our government’s development. They cannot digest the pace of our development,” he criticised.
Asked whether the new project would be connected to the already built elevated corridor or built separately, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “It will be a separate project. Both projects will function in their own way. A separate arrangement is being made with the aim of maintaining the speed and smooth flow of traffic.”
Asked whether there would be a link from the next section of the elevated corridor to the tunnel road, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, “There will be an arrangement to come out of the tunnel road and continue along the elevated road. But this is not the 16-km tunnel road. That is a separate project. What has been proposed now is a small tunnel road.”
“This small tunnel road project is being planned keeping in mind the traffic congestion in the Hebbal area. After easing traffic in one area, an alternative connecting arrangement is being made so that vehicles do not get stuck again in the next section,” Chief Minister Shivakumar said.
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