Bengaluru Residents Oppose Tunnels and Flyovers, Demand Sustainable Urban Solutions
Bengaluru’s infrastructure challenges have once again come under scrutiny, as citizens and urban planners strongly oppose the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) proposal to construct elevated corridors and tunnels in an attempt to ease traffic congestion. At a public discussion led by actor and activist Prakash Belawadi, concerned residents and urban experts rejected these projects, asserting that they fail to provide long-term relief and could instead worsen the city’s mobility crisis. The Citizens’ Forum, comprising urban planners, environmentalists, and local groups, urged the government to develop a holistic mobility strategy instead of investing in infrastructure that only benefits a small section of commuters.
The criticism comes amid growing concerns that Bengaluru has exceeded its population capacity, and traditional road expansions no longer offer viable solutions. Experts argue that the city’s worsening traffic congestion stems from its high-density urban sprawl, insufficient public transport, and inadequate policy interventions. Instead of focusing on expensive tunnel projects, urban planner Naresh Narasimhan has advocated for a decentralised growth model, where neighbouring towns like Magadi, Hoskote, and Tumkur are developed into satellite hubs to reduce the burden on the city’s core. “Bengaluru is choking. We must create breathing spaces by expanding economic activities beyond the city limits,” he stated.
Public Transport Over Costly Infrastructure: Experts Weigh In
The Citizens’ Forum also raised concerns over the financial and environmental costs of building tunnels and flyovers, warning that such projects fail to provide sustainable solutions. IISc professor Ashish Verma stressed that increasing Bengaluru’s reliance on mass public transport should be the primary goal, with at least 80% of the population relying on buses, metro, and non-motorised transport. “If tunnels are constructed, they will reach full capacity immediately, rendering them ineffective in the long run,” he warned.
Moreover, Bengaluru’s public transport usage remains significantly lower than other global metropolitan cities, with only about 48% of the population relying on non-private vehicles. Comparatively, cities like Singapore and London have managed to push over 70% of their commuters towards public transit systems, reducing congestion and improving urban sustainability. Experts argue that instead of investing thousands of crores in flyovers, the government should prioritise expanding Bengaluru’s metro, upgrading bus fleets, and improving last-mile connectivity to encourage a behavioural shift towards public transit.
Civic Challenges and the Need for Sustainable Growth
Bengaluru’s urban growth has outpaced its infrastructure planning, leading to multiple civic challenges beyond just traffic congestion. Rising air pollution, garbage mismanagement, and depleting water resources have made the city increasingly unlivable. According to a recent report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Bengaluru’s PM2.5 levels exceed safe limits on most days, largely due to emissions from vehicles stuck in endless traffic jams. Building more tunnels and flyovers will only encourage car dependency, worsening air pollution and further straining civic resources.
Additionally, experts point out that the government’s road expansion projects have consistently failed to ease congestion. For instance, the Hebbal flyover—built to decongest a key junction—quickly became overloaded, highlighting how road expansion projects fail to account for the continuous growth in vehicle ownership. Without a multi-modal transport strategy, the city is bound to repeat past mistakes, exacerbating urban gridlock instead of resolving it.
Sustainability Perspective: A Call for Smarter Urban Mobility
From a sustainability standpoint, Bengaluru needs a green mobility framework that prioritises eco-friendly transport. Developing dedicated cycling lanes, pedestrian-friendly streets, and electric bus fleets can significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint. Experts also urge the integration of transit-oriented development (TOD) models, where mixed-use commercial and residential hubs are built around metro stations and bus terminals, minimising the need for daily long-distance commutes.
The Citizens’ Forum insists that Bengaluru’s transport policy should align with global sustainable urban planning practices, where reducing dependence on private vehicles is the key to long-term progress. While tunnel and flyover projects may provide temporary relief, they fail to address the root cause of congestion—an urban design that continues to favour car-centric development over pedestrian and commuter-friendly solutions. Instead, the focus must shift towards enhancing mass transit, enforcing vehicle restrictions in congested zones, and promoting environmentally responsible urban development.
With civic activists and urban planners uniting against short-term infrastructure fixes, the debate over Bengaluru’s mobility future is gaining momentum. The question now remains—will the government prioritise sustainable, long-term solutions, or will it continue down a path that history has proven ineffective?