MP for Bengaluru Central P.C. Mohan has raised objections to the proposed north–south tunnel corridor between Hebbal and Silk Board, calling it an unscientific and economically unsound project that could burden taxpayers and duplicate existing infrastructure.
“With the State’s finances already stretched by welfare schemes, the tunnel’s burden will eventually fall on citizens through higher taxes, tolls, or diversion of essential funds,” Mr. Mohan said, adding that he and his team were compiling data and expert inputs to submit before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the State Tender Committee.
Mr. Mohan said the project appears to have been rushed through without adequate technical validation, environmental scrutiny, or integration with the city’s ongoing transport plans and urged the State government to withdraw the proposal and instead prioritise the city’s long-pending elevated corridor and Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) projects.
The proposed tunnel, comprising 18 km of main underground stretch and 15 km of ramps, is designed at a depth of 35 to 40 metres, passing through Mekhri Circle, Race Course Road, Lalbagh, and Madivala, he said, arguing that the tunnel’s alignment seems to have been decided based on where land is available, not where traffic demand exists.
“For instance, Mekhri Circle was chosen because of palace and defence lands, and Lalbagh and Race Course road due to land relocation proposals,” Mr. Mohan said, adding that the tunnel terminates near St. John’s Hospital, before the high-density Silk Board junction, which makes little sense from a transport planning perspective.
“The proposed Hosur airport will further increase traffic load in the same corridor, making the current alignment illogical and short-sighted,” he said.
Mr. Mohan criticised the composition of the project’s scrutiny committee, which currently includes government engineers and a private consultant from Delhi. “An independent review must be conducted by neutral institutions like IISc or IITs, which have the expertise and objectivity to assess such complex underground works,” he said. He also suggested empowering the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority to coordinate all major mobility projects under one integrated framework with qualified urban mobility experts.
Published – November 13, 2025 09:27 pm IST
