The ambitious Tunnel Road Project (TRP), championed by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, has come under scrutiny for prioritizing private vehicles over public transit. Fresh concerns have emerged as the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) reveals plans for underground retail spaces with two-tiered parking, linked by electric trolleybuses.

Urban expert Satya Arikutharam criticized the plan, arguing that commercial motives are overshadowing Bengaluru’s transportation needs. “The DPR subtly includes retail centres and multi-level parking while briefly mentioning trolleybus connectivity,” he noted.

Rajkumar Dugar, founder of Citizens for Citizens (C4C), warned that underground malls and parking lots pose significant risks. “If footfall is low, it’s a financial disaster. If high, it leads to claustrophobic conditions, crowd mismanagement, fire hazards, and increased energy costs,” he cautioned.

The DPR, accessed by TOI, outlines retail spaces under the ‘Intermodal Interchange Hubs’ section, emphasizing amenities like seating, Wi-Fi, and charging stations. However, BBMP officials claim they were unaware of these hubs and promise further review.

Despite allocating ₹19,000 crore as a state-guaranteed investment, critics argue that the government should prioritize above-ground public transport, like Metro Phase 3A, instead of an expensive, car-centric tunnel network.

#TunnelRoadDebate #BengaluruTraffic #UrbanPlanning #PublicVsPrivate