Bengaluru's Tunnel Vision: Public Transport Takes a Back Seat

In a heated debate over Bengaluru's proposed tunnel road project, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya have locked horns. While Shivakumar argues that cars have become a social necessity, Surya contends that improving public transport should be the priority.

Shivakumar defended the initiative, citing social obligations that necessitate car ownership, such as dropping children at school. He dismissed Surya's request to prioritize public transport, challenging him to convince Bengaluru's BJP MPs to abandon their cars in favor of public options.

Surya criticized the project as a vanity venture that lacks planning and environmental assessments. He highlighted the inefficiency of the proposed Rs 43,000 crore tunnel, suggesting that funds would be better spent on enhancing metro and bus services to alleviate traffic congestion more effectively.