Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya has voiced strong opposition to the acquisition of land in Lalbagh for the controversial tunnel road project. He has urged the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to study how the project could affect the ancient Lalbagh Rock formation.
A day after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar visited Lalbagh, Surya inspected the proposed site for the tunnel road ramp at the botanical garden on Sunday morning. During his visit, officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s B-SMILE – the state government’s special purpose vehicle for the project – briefed him on the project and land acquisition plans. Surya also spoke with morning walkers to hear their opinions.
Surya urged the state government to withdraw the project and said that the plan is ‘unscientific, unnecessary, unsafe and unlawful.’
Tunnel Road will be a disaster for Bengaluru.
6 acres are earmarked for acquisition but the people of Bengaluru will not let even 6 inches of Lalbagh to be taken.
During my visit to Lalbagh yesterday, GBA officials refused to accompany us to show the proposed tunnel route under… pic.twitter.com/aj3TJPzbw7
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 13, 2025
Concerns over lack of environmental study
Surya criticised the B-SMILE officials for not conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and for failing to consult the public. Officials responded that the project did not require an EIA because it falls under the “city development category.” They added that the trees on the land, which are four years old, would be transplanted.
“The Karnataka government is looking to take away Bengaluru’s most precious lung space to make an exit ramp of the tunnel road,” Surya told reporters.
Adding to that he mentioned, “the project poses a huge threat to the Lalbagh Rock, a 300-million-year-old archaeological marvel that is part of our city’s heritage,” Surya told reporters after the inspection”.
Public awareness and safety concerns
Surya said he plans to put up boards in Lalbagh to encourage people to voice their concerns. He stressed that the Tunnel Road project is being rushed without an EIA or geological study, which is required by Indian law.
“For such projects, there is a mandate by the Government of India that an EIA must be done. However, B-SMILE is claiming an exemption from EIA for this project, which is not true. Following the recent tunnel disaster in Uttarakhand, a complete study of the seismic and geological impact must be undertaken before boring any tunnel,” he added.
Additionally he also highlighted that for Metro Phase 3A, which overlaps with the Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel corridor, the route was partially altered to prevent damage to the Lalbagh Rock. Experts have warned that tunneling in this area could lead to structural instability, fractures, and disruptions to water systems, potentially harming Lalbagh’s ecosystem and surrounding urban areas.