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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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
