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Bengaluru, Nov 13 (IANS) Terming the Karnataka government’s move to build two tunnel roads to ease traffic jams in Bengaluru as an “unfortunate decision”, the BJP on Thursday said despite not having enough funds to fill potholes in the city, the state government is foolishly going ahead with the proposal.
Speaking at a joint press conference held at Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP state office in Bengaluru on Thursday, BJP MP PC Mohan said, “Yesterday, the government opened the technical bids for the project. The plan is to build an 18-km tunnel road from Esteem Mall to St. John’s Medical College in Madiwala. The entry and exit points together will span about 15 km, making the total tunnel length about 33 km. This tunnel will be about 30 km long. Will run 40 meters – about 130 to 140 feet – underground.
He said exits have been planned at Mekhri Circle (for vehicles coming from Hebbal), Race Course, Lalbagh and finally St. John’s Medical College.
Mohan claimed, “No traffic density study has been done. Wherever open space was available, they have marked entry and exit points arbitrarily. The project lacks scientific study and proper planning.”
Mohan said that for the last 18 months, the state government has been proposing two tunnel projects for Bengaluru and the Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar is keen to implement them.
He said, “I had already drawn the government’s attention to the shortcomings in the DPR (detailed project report) and the pros and cons of this project due in July 2024. I had protested against the decision to hand over the DPR and feasibility study – costing Rs 14 crore – to Altinok Consultants and Radic Consultants, two firms that are already blacklisted. At least 18 months for the DPR alone for such a big project. 2 years will be required.”
“The government has not formed any committee for technical assessment. Instead, it has relied on the BMRCL managing director, chief engineer and a private consultant from Delhi. It seems that all three of them only follow the instructions of DK Shivakumar and will not disclose the real technical challenges,” alleged Mohan.
“The technical report should have been obtained from nationally recognized institutions like IISc and IITs. Based on my experience, such institutions do not work under government pressure,” he remarked, claiming that the report lacked scientific credibility.
He further said that major traffic areas like KR Puram, Silk Board, Hebbal and Guruguntepalya were not considered in the detailed project plan. DPR of another tunnel from KR Puram to Nayandahalli is being prepared. “Electronic City, Tumakuru Road, Kanakapura Road, Outer Ring Road, Mysuru Road and Magadi Road are already well connected through NICE Road. Does Bengaluru really need another tunnel?” He asked question.
“An elevated road is already being built from KR Puram to Electronic City. When an elevated corridor is being built, what is the need for a tunneled road? It is clear that this is not being done for public convenience but to loot taxpayers’ money,” alleged Mohan.
He also informed that vehicles will have to take a detour of about a kilometer to reach the entry and exit points of the proposed tunnel dug 130-140 feet below. “No environmental study has been done on what impact it will have on nearby buildings, trees and borewells,” he said.
State BJP spokesperson Dr. Rangappa and Prakash and Bengaluru Central District President Saptagiri Gowda were present in the press conference.
–IANS
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