In  the larger interests of Bengaluru, the proposed 17Km Tunnel Road Project (TRP) between Hebbal and Central Silk Board must be immediately cancelled. And so should the proposed second 25Km Tunnel Road between K R Puram and Nayandahalli. 

Why? Here are some reasons:

1.    Tunnel Roads can be considered to cross water bodies, hills, ecologically sensitive areas and to drastically reduce commute distance, that too after exhausting all other options. None of these is applicable to Bengaluru.

2.    TRP is claimed to reduce commute duration, fuel and commute cost, air and noise pollution and also congestion on the surface roads. It is also claimed to be environment-friendly. All these are questionable and far from reality.

(a)  Commute duration within Tunnel may reduce because of higher average speed of around 45kmph (Maximum speed 60Kmph) compared to about 20Kmph presently on surface roads. However, any length of Tunnel commute will get added by 2.3Kms of Entry & Exit Ramp Commute + Additional Distance to reach the ramp before entry and to go away from the ramp after exit – including U Turns before and after ramp commute depending on starting and ending points of the trip. In fact, our calculation shows that due to ramp and additional commutes, any short distance commute (say, any one section of about 5Kms) using the tunnel may actually take longer duration than by using normal surface roads. 

(b)  Fuel cost is likely to reduce by about 5% for commute through tunnel. However, the ramp and additional distance as explained in (a) above will add to total fuel cost.

(c)  Commute cost will rise drastically because toll of Rs. 18/Km is proposed to be levied to recover investment and interest, and to make profit. The ironic fact is such a high toll will be paid only by those few who can afford it and by those who don’t pay out of their own pockets, e.g., corporates and government functionaries, making TRP a non-inclusive mode. 2 Wheelers - about 70% of all vehicles in Bengaluru - are not likely to be allowed.

(d)  Air and Noise pollution will worsen. There is a gradient variation of about 50m along the Tunnel alignment. All the exhaust fumes will come out at the portals (Entries and Exits) and 3 intermediate Air Vents in the 17Km long tunnel. Many petrol and diesel vehicles, particularly the older ones and also commercial vehicles are non-compliant with emission norms. Concentration of emission gases within such a long tunnel is a potential safety hazard. Noise pollution will increase because it is in our DNA to use noisy engines, non-compliant loud, shrill, multi-tone horns and we love to honk. In an enclosed space like a Tunnel and Ramps, this noise will get amplified. 

(e)  Reduced congestion due to Tunnel Roads is a complete no-no. Present growth rate of vehicles in Bengaluru is unsustainable. Any increase in road infrastructure is bound to encourage people to buy more vehicles, particularly cars. Presently our 2 wheeler to car ratio is roughly 3:1. With plenty of HNIs, we will have more people buying their 3rd, 4th and 5th cars. These vehicles will cause parking chaos and ADD to congestion on roads. All vehicles using the Tunnel Roads will move towards 8 entries and out of 8 exits merging with regular road traffic, thus adding to congestion. In fact, most important to understand is that due to Tunnel Roads, vehicles not using Tunnel Roads will also face higher congestion on surface roads. Due to toll, TRP will not be used by all the potential users, adding to congestion on surface roads and financial failure of the Project. Closure of Tunnel for any reason will result in chaos and gridlocks on surface roads.

(f)   As far as environment is concerned, TRP is a disaster. With 2 Tunnels of 15m diameter (which is roughly the height of a 5 floor building), one for each direction, the flora and fauna along the 17Kms Tunnel and total 18+Kms ramps, will be adversely affected. Trees will have to be cut, mainly to accommodate 18Kms of ramps. Soil and water contamination will happen. Construction debris will have to be shifted to far away land-fills. Water aquifers and water bodies including nearby lakes (Hebbal, Nagawara, Lalbagh), bore wells, open wells, etc. are likely to go dry. 2 Tunnels and 2 ramps will go below the gneiss rock heritage hillock in Lalbagh. Equipment for monitoring and maintenance, round-the-clock lighting, etc. will have high energy requirements.

3.    TRP is an extremely costly Project. Cost at the time of approval is around 1100 Crores/Km. This may double by the time TRP is commissioned. At present, we can get about 1100 good quality battery buses or about 2Kms of Metro or about 10Kms of Suburban Rail for the amount spent on 1Km of TRP. Compared to TRP, the other modes can take much more people off the roads, thus effectively freeing our roads. Round-the-clock monitoring and maintenance will be needed and will add to the cost. Remember, every rupee spent on TRP will ultimately have to be paid by you and me, directly or indirectly, irrespective of loans and guarantees.

4.    TRP will be highly disruptive. We have seen how Metro construction disrupts services and traffic. We will have multi-fold disruptions with TRP due to cables and pipes getting damaged and due to diversion of traffic, dust and noise pollution during construction, cracks in buildings, vibrations, etc.

5.    Tunnel Roads are unsafe in many ways. Unlike trained drivers/pilots in PT modes, we have all kinds of drivers who are definitely not trained for tunnel roads, particularly such a long one. One vehicle/driver misbehaving can cause havoc. Accidents can result in gridlocks. Any road rage incident, stunts, over-speeding, fumes, fire, flooding can compromise safety of all.

6.    TRP will take huge time to construct. It is claimed that this Tunnel Road will be completed in 5years. It will likely take closer to 10. By then, commute options will increase and all VIPs and HNIs will probably find it better to commute using helicopters, air taxis or even drone vehicles making TRP useless.

7.    TRP alignment makes it redundant and wasteful. It runs along almost the same alignment as the proposed Metro alignment between Sarjapura and Hebbal. Any day, Metro is far better than TRP. 

8.    Flooding will be a real and major challenge. Every year, Bengaluru has an average of about 60 rainy days. Never forget 23 year Ms. Bhanu Rekha who died in a 10m underpass (bottom part) at K R Circle on 21 May, 2023 when her car got flooded with rainwater. No one could save her. Even this year, before monsoon itself, we have lost lives directly attributed to flooding. First, let us make Bengaluru a Sponge City before we even think of such high-risk Projects.

9.    Due process has not been followed while going ahead with TRP. Zero Public consultation. No BBMP Councillors since 2020. No formal consultations with even Bengaluru’s 28 MLAs and 5 MPs yet. No proper approvals – MPC, BMLTA, etc. Stakeholders like BWSSB, BESCOM, BMRCL, SWR, KRIDE, BMTC, etc. have not yet come out with clear stand on this project. 

10.    Numerous projects like Ejipura Flyover are languishing for years. Number of buses need a huge boost. Bus services and routes have to be revamped. Metro construction is happening but needs to show faster results. SWR can be persuaded to run more local commute trains. Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project is being built at a snail’s pace. Less than 10% work has been completed in past 56 months. Walkability and Cyclability need to be widely facilitated. Bengaluru must be converted into a Sponge City to drastically reduce flooding and to raise the water table. 

11.The rate of growth of Bengaluru in terms of population and vehicles needs to be brought down. The policy of Beyond Bengaluru needs implementation in letter and spirit. Other districts, cities and towns across Karnataka need focus along with efficient connectivity with Bengaluru since it is a global city and the capital of Karnataka. This will help decongest Bengaluru as well as help develop other parts of the State. Almost 200 MLAs and 23 MPs who represent parts of the State outside Bengaluru, must take this up seriously for all-round development. Skewed or lop-sided development is not good for anyone.

As per our survey on X (formerly twitter), 90% people do not want TRP and do want improved PT, etc. TRP will make their lives miserable.

Based on the above, we earnestly request Government of Karnataka, the Hon. Chief Minister and Hon. Deputy Chief Minister to kindly review the TRP and cancel this Project and focus all resources, time and energy on other simpler, economic, safer, eco-friendly and faster options to truly improve quality of life in and around Bengaluru and across the State.