Bengaluru, 13 Nov  

MP PC Mohan said the State government’s tunnel road project “lacks vision, scientific planning, and fiscal prudence.”  Speaking at a press conference in the City on Thursday, he said that his team was gathering evidence to submit to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

He said that the proposed Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel route was chosen based on vacant government land availability, such as Palace Grounds, Defence areas, and Race Course, rather than actual traffic demand or urban mobility needs.

“Shockingly, the tunnel ends before the Silk Board junction, one of the most congested points in Bengaluru,” he said. 

He added that there was no independent scrutiny from institutions such as the IISc or IITs. 

“The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been reviewed only by State-appointed officials and the same private consultant who prepared it,” he noted.  He added that the DPR has ignored the environmental and social implications of the project. 

“Over 15km of the tunnel is to be constructed using cut-and-cover methods, which will involve deep excavation, tree loss, and severe traffic disruptions for years,” he said. “The remaining section uses NATM tunnelling, which carries vibration risks for nearby structures,” which may affect groundwater.

The proposed tunnel runs parallel to the Namma Metro’s Pink Line, duplicating public transport infrastructure rather than complementing it, he said. “This not only wastes taxpayer money but also disrupts planned Metro expansion.”

He said that Tunnel Boring Machines needed for construction take two years to procure and progress at 3-3.5m daily, meaning that the project would take 8-10 years to complete. This would cause relentless traffic disruption, he said. 

“Entry and exit points at Hebbal, Mekhri Circle, Lalbagh, and St John’s were altered even after tendering, indicating poor coordination between engineers and consultants,” he added.