Bengaluru, 17 May

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya expressed shock at reports stating that GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwara Rao had asked dissenting citizens to “go to court” if they can’t afford to pay the planned toll in the proposed tunnel road in the City.

On Saturday, Rao told a group of citizens opposing the proposed Hebbal–Silk Board tunnel road that “if you cannot pay, do not use the tunnel”.

Surya hit back on X, calling the project “a millionaire’s project for the benefit of millionaires” and saying that Rao appeared to have displayed “astonishing arrogance”.

“The ordinary Bengalurean pays for it through taxes, loses public money that should have gone to buses and Metro, and is then told not to use it if he cannot pay the toll,” the BJP MP stated. “Nothing captures elitism better. Bengaluru needs public transport, not private luxury corridors. Bengaluru needs public transport, not private luxury corridors.”

He vowed to continue fighting the matter in court and out in the streets.

‘Need to connect N Karnataka'

During a video call with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Surya requested a High-Speed Rail / Bullet Train corridor between Mumbai and Bengaluru via Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad and Davangere. Surya said this would be a “game changer” for North Karnataka and would bring jobs to the region.

Surya later claimed that Vaishnaw responded positively to the request.