BJP MP urges Shivakumar to drop tunnel road project; says aim should be to move people, not vehicles

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday dismissed BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's request to prioritise public transport over the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road project, saying cars have become a ''social obligation'' and that ''those without cars don't get brides.'' Shivakumar and Surya sparred publicly over the proposed tunnel road project, which aims to create a network of underground roads to ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru. The 17.7-km twin-tube tunnel would connect Hebbal to Central Silk Board.

While Shivakumar has been pushing for the project, Surya has opposed it, arguing that such capital-intensive ventures would not ease Bengaluru's traffic congestion.

''Can I stop you from bringing your car? Everyone has social obligations. Husband, wife, and children want to travel in a car. Children have to be dropped off at school in a car. These things cannot be avoided,'' Shivakumar told reporters here.

Challenging Surya, the deputy CM said the BJP MP should first ask his voters to stop using cars and switch to the metro or government buses. He also urged all four BJP MPs from Bengaluru to travel by public transport instead of cars.

According to Shivakumar, owning a car has become essential for marriage. ''People without cars do not get brides. Is he (Surya) concerned about this social obligation?'' he asked.

Taking a swipe at the Bengaluru South MP, Shivakumar said, ''Let him get us central government funds. V Somanna (Minister of State for Railways) is there along with other central ministers from Karnataka. Let him do whatever he wants. Who is stopping him?'' Responding to Surya's warning of protests, the deputy CM said, ''Let him protest. Who has said no? No BJP leader is talking — only he (Tejasvi Surya) is speaking. Ashoka has spoken a bit. He has no concern for Bengaluru's development. He just opposes it. What did he do during his party’s government?'' ''We will do our work. We are committed and will continue. Looking at our interests, people are saying that we are making efforts. I am confident our work will be completed,'' Shivakumar added.

Surya, who met Shivakumar on Tuesday and presented alternatives to the tunnel project, reiterated his opposition on Wednesday, urging the deputy CM to drop it.

''The focus should be on moving people, not vehicles,'' he said. ''The 45 lakh people travelling in city buses and 10 lakh travelling in Metro trains got brides, they too got married, they have children, and are leading happy married lives. The government should shed the mindset that only those with cars get married and have families,'' Surya added.

Accusing Shivakumar of ''pursuing vanity projects'', Surya said, ''Instead of leaving a legacy, Shivakumar is leaving a scar on Bengaluru.'' He warned that the BJP would challenge the project in court and take to the streets in protest.

Addressing a press conference, Surya said, ''Our objective should be to move people, not vehicles. This tunnel road project, with an estimated cost of Rs 43,000 crore, will only choke Bengaluru further and not offer any real solution.'' He argued that if the same funds were invested in metro rail, suburban rail, trams, and additional BMTC buses for last-mile connectivity, the city's traffic problems could be effectively addressed.

''For every Rs 1,000 crore spent on the tunnel road, only 1,800 car users can travel per hour per day, whereas the same investment in metro rail would benefit 69,000 passengers per hour per day,'' he claimed.

''By building a metro rail network, you can move people 40 times more efficiently than by accommodating cars,'' he added.

Surya also alleged that the project lacked proper planning, claiming no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), soil testing, or disaster management consultation had been done. He said an expert committee had identified at least 22 choke points along the proposed tunnel route.