Overview
- R. Ashoka and Tejasvi Surya led a signature drive and silent protest at Lalbagh on Sunday, branding the tunnel a VIP project and warning of harm to the park, including alleged acquisition of about six acres.
- Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said Union minister Nitin Gadkari advised and supported the tunnel concept, urging state BJP leaders to heed their party’s national leadership.
- Shivakumar proposed a committee chaired by Ashoka to examine concerns and potential design changes to entry and exit points, reiterating that Lalbagh would be protected.
- Opponents cite the project DPR to claim 22 new choke points and longer travel distances due to extended ramps, and they question viability given a reported ₹7,500–8,000 crore funding gap and tolls near ₹600 per trip.
- The plan continues under legal scrutiny, with the Karnataka High Court seeking clarity on ecological impacts and petitions before the NGT, even as tenders and financing steps have progressed.