The Karnataka government is considering shifting the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road alignment to avoid Lalbagh, following concerns that construction could damage the park’s three-billion-year-old Peninsular Gneiss formation. The possible change was discussed at the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s second meeting on Thursday evening.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda presided over the meeting, where officials were instructed to examine alternatives to the proposed entry and exit points and ramps for the tunnel road. The government had earlier proposed acquiring five acres of land for the project.
“We are exploring alternatives,” Shivakumar told reporters, according to the report.
The proposed tunnel road is planned to run for 16.7 km and has an estimated cost of Rs 16,980 crore. Its alignment through or near Lalbagh had drawn criticism from environmentalists and park users, who raised concerns about possible damage to the park and its geological features.
The government’s consideration of a revised alignment does not amount to a final decision to relocate the project. Officials are expected to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of shifting the tunnel’s access points and ramps before determining whether changes are technically and administratively feasible.
The Lalbagh issue was discussed alongside other infrastructure proposals at the Greater Bengaluru Authority meeting. The authority cleared 11 proposals, including an infrastructure development project worth Rs 450 crore for the Outer Ring Road and projects connected with white-topping roads.
The tunnel road proposal is part of the state’s broader plans to expand Bengaluru’s road infrastructure. However, the possible changes at Lalbagh place the project’s alignment, land requirement and access arrangements under review. The next step identified by the government is the examination of alternative entry and exit points and ramps that could avoid damage to the park and its underlying rock formation.
