Bengaluru's Lalbagh Under Threat Due to Tunnel Road Project

Bengaluru, Oct 7 (PTI) - R Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, has raised concerns about a proposed tunnel road project spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, which he claims threatens the historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden.

In a highly charged post on social media with the headline "Lalbagh in Danger – Courtesy DCM D K Shivakumar's Tunnel Madness!", Ashoka alleged that the Rs 26,000 crore project would irreparably damage Bengaluru's "green lungs" and cultural heritage.

Ashoka's message, tagged with #SaveLalbagh and #CongressFailsBengaluru, warned of the loss of nearly six acres of Lalbagh land, the felling of thousands of trees, and destruction to the ecological balance, dismissing the initiative as a vanity venture of the Deputy Chief Minister.

Challenging the rationale behind the project, Ashoka asked, "When experts, civic groups, and environmentalists have raised red flags, why is the @INCKarnataka government still bulldozing ahead? Why this arrogance and disregard for Bengaluru's identity and environment?"

Stressing Lalbagh's intrinsic value beyond an open space, Ashoka described it as "the city's soul, our children's oxygen, and a state's treasure." He declared that no leader should jeopardize these assets for political glory.

Highlighting the BJP's alignment with the local community, Ashoka stated his party's commitment to defending 'Namma Lalbagh' and urged the Congress-led government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to scrap the project immediately.

Furthermore, Ashoka called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take a stand for Bengaluru's greenery, questioning whether Gandhi would "speak up for Bengaluru's environment or stay silent while his own party destroys our green heritage."

The ambitious Bengaluru Tunnel Road project aims to link Hebbal in the north to Central Silk Board Junction in the south through a 28-kilometre underground corridor, intending to mitigate surface traffic congestion.

Strategically located entry and exit points are suggested along the route, including locations at Mekhri Circle, Palace Grounds, Lalbagh, and Dairy Circle, according to the project's outline.