BENGALURU: A proposed road-building strategy to ease traffic congestion in Bengaluru has raised concerns over the possible impact on lakes and their surrounding buffer zones. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is exploring road infrastructure solutions to improve connectivity, but the proposals have also renewed questions about protecting the city’s water bodies and urban ecology.

Bengaluru’s rapid growth has increased pressure on its road network, with congestion affecting commuters across several parts of the city. Authorities have been considering new roads, buffer roads and alternative routes to improve traffic flow. However, construction near lakes requires careful assessment of environmental consequences, including possible effects on water movement, groundwater recharge and biodiversity.

Road projects near lakes draw attention

The debate over roads near lakes is not new. In December 2025, GBA officials proposed a detailed survey to assess the feasibility of constructing a road within the buffer zone of Bellandur Lake to reduce congestion along the lake bund road.

The proposal included a stretch approximately one kilometre long and 24 metres wide. Officials said the road could help ease congestion in the surrounding area.

The plan formed part of broader efforts to improve connectivity through alternative road links. Other projects discussed at the time included a proposed buffer road as an alternative to Wind Tunnel Road and a road connecting Ejipura Inner Ring Road with Sarjapur Outer Ring Road.

These proposals illustrate the challenge facing Bengaluru’s planners: improving mobility while ensuring that infrastructure development does not undermine the city’s natural drainage systems and lakes.

Hebbal tunnel project highlights environmental concerns

The proposed Hebbal twin-tunnel project has also brought the relationship between infrastructure development and lake protection into focus.

The Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) granted conditional approval in July 2026 for the use of 13,944 square metres, or about 3.45 acres, of Hebbal Lake land for the tunnel project. The approval came with eight conditions covering protection of the lake’s physical structures, natural inflow and outflow channels, water quality, flora and fauna, and compliance with court orders.

The conditions also require the project to obtain permission from the relevant lake custodian before construction proceeds under the approval framework.

The project has faced a legal challenge in the Karnataka High Court. Petitioners have raised concerns about the lake buffer zone and the adequacy of environmental assessments, while authorities have maintained that the project can proceed without affecting the lake’s functioning. The court had sought clarification on the potential effects on the lake’s water flow and groundwater.

The case illustrates why environmental safeguards and transparent assessments are important when roads or tunnels are proposed close to sensitive water bodies.

Balancing mobility with lake conservation

Urban lakes play several roles beyond storing water. They support local ecosystems, contribute to groundwater recharge and help manage stormwater during heavy rainfall. Construction that changes natural drainage patterns or affects lake buffers can therefore have consequences beyond the immediate project area.

Environmental assessments can help determine whether a proposed road is feasible, what safeguards are necessary and whether alternative alignments would reduce the impact. Such evaluations are particularly important in areas where roads, residential developments and lake systems are closely connected.

Authorities must also consider whether improving public transport, upgrading existing roads or managing traffic demand could reduce congestion without requiring construction near ecologically sensitive areas.

Bengaluru faces a complex infrastructure challenge

The city’s growing transport needs require long-term planning, coordination among civic agencies and clear environmental safeguards. Road projects may improve connectivity, but their benefits need to be assessed alongside their potential effects on lakes, drainage and surrounding communities.

As the GBA considers ways to address congestion, the key challenge will be to ensure that transport improvements are supported by transparent planning and adequate environmental scrutiny. The final impact will depend on the specific routes approved, the safeguards implemented and the findings of relevant technical assessments.