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World / The New Indian Express

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Tunnel road may cost Rs 70Kcr, civil society groups to oppose

BENGALURU: Save Bengaluru Committee, a civil society group, lashed out at the State government for pushing the controversial twin tunnel project that costs Rs 42,000 crore. The members claim the overall estimation for the North-South and East-West project is likely to reach over Rs 70,000 crore. The members urged the government to invest the same amount on a mass transit system like Metro Rail or Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC). They also criticized the BJP for not coming on to the streets against the project, and stated that BJPs double standards stand exposed as its central leadership is not doing enough to stop the project, and state leaders are taking a soft approach to the issue. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Shashikumar G, convener, Save Bangalore Committee, said the project is unscientific. As per the report, only 1,800 car passengers can be accommodated, as against 69,000 passengers on a Metro and 1.75 lakh passengers in BMTC buses. The project is not only a waste of money but also impacts the environment, said Shashikumar. He added that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-Smile) has been created that will execute the project and raise a loan of Rs 9,303 crore for the project, and Rs 10,619 crore will have to be pumped in by the agency, and it will be allowed to toll the stretch for the next 40 years. The project, which is now shown as Rs 42,000 crore, may be estimated at Rs 70,000 crore later, and this will be a burden. Instead, the amount should be used for Metro and BMTC, he said. The members also stated that the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) also opposed the feasibility report of the tunnel network, stating that the project does not comply with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan. Shashikumar also lashed out at the opposition BJP and JDS, stating that BJP is pretending to oppose the project, while HD Kumaraswamy of JDS has backed it. Both BJP and JDS have become protectors of this plan designed to cut open Bengalurus underbelly. Hence, to oppose the move, civil society groups will come under a single banner on November 30 at SCM House near the corporation, to urge all citizens to stall the project, said Shashikumar. Committee members say experts like Ashish Verma and TV Ramachandra from IISc and other mobility experts will address the gathering.

26 Nov 2025 8:29 am