Expert committee finds major gaps in Bengaluru tunnel road project report
Bengaluru: A key initiative of Bengaluru’s proposed tunnel road project, backed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, has been called into question after a government-appointed expert committee identified serious flaws in its Detailed Project Report (DPR). The panel, constituted by the Karnataka Urban Development Department, said the DPR appeared to have been prepared hastily, with inadequate data and insufficient technical assessment.
Headed by Siddanagouda Hegaraddi, Executive Director (Civil) of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the committee observed that the DPR relied on just four soil test points for planning the tunnel, according to a report published by The Hindu. The soil tests conducted are carried out in insufficient number for a project of this magnitude, as per the report. It also advised that the decision to locate one of the tunnel shafts inside the Lalbagh Botanical Garden be reconsidered, citing the ecological sensitivity of the area.
The report also pointed out major deficiencies in the traffic study and noted that the proposed tunnel would run almost parallel to the planned Namma Metro line along Bengaluru’s north-south corridor. The committee said that the justification for such an expensive infrastructure project could not be verified, without credible data on how many people would shift from private vehicles to public transport. It pointed out that, making its assumptions difficult to substantiate, the DPR did not include reliable peak-hour traffic data, modal share, or future projections.
The committee described the traffic studies as weak and noted that they were based on secondary information and assumptions and no field surveys were carried out to collect primary data. The committee further found that critical technical facts about mode-specific commuter distribution, predicted changes to BMTC buses, metro and suburban rail, and estimated lane requirements were missing from the study.
The DPR also lacked critical documents and studies about land acquisition plans, utility and tree relocation details, environmental and social impact assessments, disaster management and security plans, and pavement and drainage designs, according to the panel.
The committee observed inconsistencies in the proposed lane configuration. The DPR projected traffic demand only up to 2041, while it proposed a six-lane design intended for a 25-year horizon. The committee recommended either extending the projection period or adjusting the lane plan to match the available data.
The panel further cautioned that the placement of entry and exit ramps could worsen surface congestion, especially where tunnel traffic merges with existing junctions. It advised a minimum two-lane design for ramps and improvements in layout near Palace Grounds and Mehkri Circle.
Urban mobility expert Sathya Arikutharam, who compared the findings of the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and the Urban Development Department’s expert panel, said both reached similar conclusions, that the tunnel project lacked a sound transport or environmental basis. He noted that DULT’s review in November 2024 had already warned that the proposed alignment did not align with the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan or Climate Action Plan. He had also advised exploring shorter tunnel segments instead.
The report also stated that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proceeded with commissioning the DPR before the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) completed its review and ignored the warnings. Both DULT and the expert committee found that no primary traffic data or real-time surveys had been conducted.
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Mamata asks TMC candidates of recent polls to rebuild party, says 'those who want to leave can go'
Kolkata (PTI): After the TMC faced an electoral setback, party supremo Mamata Banerjee urged its candidates who contested the recent assembly polls to rebuild the organisation, asserting that those wishing to quit the party were free to do so.
At a meeting with the Trinamool Congress' contesting candidates at her Kalighat residence on Friday, attended by its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, she said the organisation would rise again despite suffering a crushing defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections.
"Those who are leaving for other parties, let them go. I will rebuild the party afresh. To those who are staying, I say rebuild the damaged party offices, paint them and reopen them. If needed, I too will paint them. Trinamool Congress will never bow down. People's mandate has been looted," Banerjee was quoted as saying by party sources.
The remarks came days after the TMC was reduced from the ruling party to the opposition benches following a dramatic reversal in electoral fortunes.
Of the 294 assembly seats in the state, the party managed to win only 80.
Mamata Banerjee herself suffered defeat in Bhabanipur, long considered her political bastion.
The TMC had fielded candidates in 291 seats, leaving three seats in the Darjeeling hills to its ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) led by Anit Thapa. Of these, only 80 candidates emerged victorious, while 211 lost, including several heavyweight leaders and ministers.
The meeting at Kalighat was convened for candidates who had contested the elections on the party's ticket amid reports of internal discontent and speculation over possible defections after the electoral debacle.
The meeting echoed Banerjee's remarks made a day after the results were declared. Addressing a press conference on May 5, the party supremo had said she was aware that some leaders might switch camps.
"I know many will leave for other parties. They may have their own compulsions. I have nothing to say about that. Whoever wants to go may go. I do not believe in forcibly holding anyone back," she had said.
The TMC's official X handle later posted photographs of the meeting and praised the contesting candidates for their fight during the election campaign.
"Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our Hon'ble National General Secretary @abhishekaitc met with our contesting candidates at Kalighat. They fought with unmatched courage despite facing unimaginable atrocities and relentless intimidation.
"The Trinamool Congress stands united as one family. We will never bow before those who loot the people's mandate. Truth will prevail," the party posted on X on Friday.
The post also reiterated the party's charge that the electoral mandate had been "stolen", a claim repeatedly raised by TMC leaders after the poll results.
Party insiders said Banerjee used the meeting to boost the morale of candidates who had contested the polls and send a message of unity amid a difficult phase for the organisation.
Today, our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial and our Hon'ble National General Secretary @abhishekaitc met with our Hon'ble Parliamentarians, at Kalighat.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 14, 2026
Bengal has been burning under @BJP4India's watch. Violence, fear, and chaos have engulfed the state over the past few days… pic.twitter.com/nYGdiIAdYD
