BENGALURU, 13 OCT

An expert committee appointed by the State government has raised significant concerns regarding the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed underground tunnel connecting Hebbal and Silk Board in the City.

The committee, led by Siddanagouda Hegaraddi of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), found that the DPR was rushed, relying on only four soil test points, which is deemed insufficient for such a large-scale project.

The report warned that positioning a tunnel shaft within Lalbagh Botanical Garden poses environmental risks and suggested reevaluating its impact on city transport and pollution. 

Moreover, it questioned the necessity of the tunnel given its parallel alignment to the proposed Namma Metro line, stating, “The general apprehension of stakeholders is that the road tunnel project on the proposed alignment will become redundant.”

Technical shortcomings, including weak traffic studies that lacked primary data and details essential for evaluating tunnel design, were highlighted. The committee noted mismatches in traffic projections, cost estimates that appear low compared to similar projects in Mumbai, and inadequate safety measures.