From PILs to name-calling: How tunnel road project became a political battlefield

The opposition to the tunnel road project, which began with public outrage and public interest litigations (PILs), has now escalated into personal battles with strong political undertones.

On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar once again took aim at MP for Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya, while Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok accused the Congress of having a ‘threatening streak in its generational blood’.

Though the tunnel road plan was unveiled over a year ago, the BJP staged its first full-fledged protest only on Sunday, under the slogan ‘Save Lalbagh, Protect Bengaluru’.

Initially, the BJP had flagged concerns over irregularities in the Detailed Project Report (DPR). But the party’s opposition soon lost momentum, barring Mr. Surya, who has remained vocal in recent months.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar pushed ahead with the project, setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for major infrastructure projects, securing Cabinet approval, and obtaining a loan sanction letter from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).

Public and activist outcry

While politics intensified, public resistance took its own course. Civic activists Kathyayini Chamaraj and Dattatreya Devare first raised concerns through public discussions. Environmentalists joined in, warning of threats to the city’s lakes and the absence of mandatory environmental clearances.

Issues around Lalbagh and Sankey Tank soon surfaced. A study by Ashish Verma from the Indian Institute of Science further revealed that the project could worsen emissions without easing congestion on parallel routes like the Outer Ring Road.

The issue escalated when Mr. Devare and activist Vinay Srinivasa approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), citing environmental harm.

That move irked Mr. Shivakumar. “Whenever development is planned, people bring a stay from the court. Now they’ve filed PILs — some sadists will always be there,” he remarked at a public event.

This marked the shift from civic debate to personal attacks — and then to full-blown political sparring.

Political attacks

Soon after Mr. Shivakumar’s ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ campaign began, Mr. Surya visited Lalbagh and declared, “Not six acres, not even six inches of Lalbagh will be given for this project.”

Mr. Shivakumar insisted the tunnel was vital to solving Bengaluru’s traffic woes, citing the stalled Steel Flyover as a missed opportunity. He challenged Mr. Surya to offer an alternative solution.

Mr. Surya, in turn, called for strengthening public transport. Mr. Shivakumar dismissed the idea, calling Mr. Surya ‘childish’. He added, “People don’t marry daughters to men who don’t own cars.” Mr. Surya shot back that the tunnel road was meant to solve ‘social problems, not civic ones’.

Mr. Shivakumar called Mr. Surya childish and ‘waste material’, adding, “No one can stop me except God.”

As tensions rose, the Congress leaders claimed that while the BJP leaders in Delhi supported the project, the State unit was politicising it.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition Mr. Ashok launched a fresh attack on Sunday. “Kempegowda built Bengaluru and dreamt of saving its lakes. Mr. Shivakumar claims his father’s name is Kempegowda. Is this how you honour the name?”

He accused the Congress of inheriting a ‘threatening nature’, citing Mr. Shivakumar’s alleged intimidation of Mr. Surya, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Mohandas Pai, and MLA C.K. Ramamurthy. “Threatening runs in their blood; Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency and threatened,” he said.

In response, Mr. Shivakumar denied the allegations. “Why would I threaten anyone? Mr. Ramamurthy is my boy. Mr. Surya is a big leader — the same one who tried to open an aircraft door midair and was scolded in the U.S. for seeking to meet Trump.”

Mr. Shivakumar added, “He (Mr. Surya) tells people not to buy cars, yet he applied for one before his wedding. Why not travel by bus or Metro?”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also joined the fray on Sunday after Mr. Ashok. “The public isn’t opposing the project—only the BJP is, for political reasons. Why oppose a project meant to ease traffic? Such tunnels exist worldwide,” he said.

He added that the tunnel was designed to benefit cars, buses, two-wheelers, and even pedestrians.

Civic voices

Civic activist Kathyayini Chamaraj responded to the Deputy Chief Minister’s “Only God can stop me” remark by saying, ‘Prajegale prabhugalu’—citizens are the true masters.”

She said the case before the NGT is backed by scientific evidence, and political posturing won’t change the facts. “The law will take its course. The public is already conducting awareness drives and keeping the debate alive—that’s enough.”

Taking a dig at Mr. Shivakumar’s remarks, she mentioned a recent public debate, “So, only 25 lakh car owners are married, and the rest of Bengaluru isn’t?”

Both PIL petitioners declined comment since the case is sub judice and will be heard by the NGT on Monday.

Another civic activist, requesting anonymity, said, “The opposition should channel its efforts into sustained debate and advocacy instead of occasional comments.”

Published – November 02, 2025 09:02 pm IST