Bengaluru: A petition opposing the proposed Hebbal Short Tunnel project has crossed 20,000 signatures, with citizens urging the Karnataka Government to pause construction and commission independent assessments of the project’s environmental, traffic and safety implications.

Titled “Save Bengaluru’s Green-Blue Landscape”, the petition was launched on Change.org on August 3. Petitioners have called for an immediate pause to the project and sought detailed studies before any construction activity results in irreversible changes to the area.

Citizens seek independent assessment

The petitioners have demanded independent environmental, hydrological, traffic and safety assessments before the project proceeds.

Their concerns centre on the possible impact of the proposed tunnel on the green and water-linked landscape around Hebbal. They have particularly sought studies on the area’s groundwater, drainage and stormwater flows.

According to the petition, an independent assessment would allow the Government to evaluate the project’s possible effects before proceeding with changes that could be difficult to reverse.

The petitioners have also sought greater transparency regarding the studies and technical documents prepared for the project.

2.2-km tunnel proposed through Veterinary College campus

The proposed Hebbal Short Tunnel is planned to run for about 2.2 km, connecting Hebbal Junction with the University of Agricultural Sciences staff quarters.

The proposed alignment passes through the Veterinary College campus.

The project has also attracted attention because of the proposed felling of 1,128 trees. The Greater Bengaluru Authority has invited objections and suggestions from members of the public regarding the tree-felling proposal.

The petitioners have raised concerns about the possible effect of the tunnel and associated construction on Hebbal Lake and the surrounding landscape.

They have specifically referred to potential implications for drainage, groundwater and stormwater movement in an area that is vulnerable to waterlogging.

Petition seeks project documents

As part of their demand for greater scrutiny, the petitioners have sought publication of several documents and studies related to the project.

These include the Detailed Project Report, traffic model, tree survey, groundwater and hydrological studies and safety assessments.

They have also called for an independent technical review of the project.

The petitioners say these documents and assessments would enable citizens and experts to understand the project’s potential environmental and traffic implications before construction advances further.

Their central demand is for a temporary pause to allow these issues to be examined independently.

Concerns over Hebbal Lake

One of the major concerns raised by citizens is the possible impact on Hebbal Lake and its surrounding drainage system.

The petitioners have pointed to the importance of the area’s green and blue landscape and questioned whether construction could affect existing groundwater and stormwater flows.

These are concerns raised by the petitioners and do not constitute an independent assessment of the project’s environmental impact. The requested hydrological and environmental studies are intended, according to the petition, to establish the potential effects before construction proceeds.

The issue is particularly relevant to Bengaluru because parts of the city have experienced waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall, making drainage and stormwater management important considerations in infrastructure planning.

Petition founder questions traffic benefits

Puneet Sachdev, who started the petition, has also questioned whether the tunnel would adequately address traffic congestion in the Hebbal area.

Sachdev said his concerns were also shaped by his familiarity with the Veterinary College campus and the area around Hebbal Lake.

He questioned whether the proposed tunnel would solve the traffic problems it is intended to address and argued that greater emphasis should be placed on public transport, including the Metro.

His comments represent the position of the petition campaign and not an independent assessment of the project’s expected traffic benefits.

Tree felling adds to public concerns

The proposed removal of 1,128 trees has become another focus of opposition to the project.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has invited objections and suggestions from the public regarding the proposed tree felling. This provides an opportunity for citizens and other stakeholders to submit their views as the project moves through the relevant processes.

The petitioners have linked the tree-felling issue with their broader concerns about the green-blue landscape around Hebbal and have called for the environmental implications of the project to be independently examined.

Government project faces public scrutiny

The petition crossing 20,000 signatures indicates that the Hebbal Short Tunnel project has become a subject of significant public discussion.

The petition does not by itself determine whether the project will proceed or whether the concerns raised will lead to changes in the proposed design or alignment. Decisions on the project will depend on the Government’s processes, technical assessments, statutory requirements and responses to public objections.

The campaign has, however, placed specific demands before the authorities, including publication of project documents and independent studies on environmental, hydrological, traffic and safety aspects.

Next steps likely to focus on assessments

With the petitioners calling for a pause, the immediate focus is on whether the authorities will provide the information and assessments sought by citizens.

The proposed 2.2-km tunnel, its alignment through the Veterinary College campus and the proposal to fell 1,128 trees are likely to remain central to the public discussion.

For citizens opposing the project, the demand is for independent scrutiny before construction proceeds. The Government’s response and the findings of relevant technical and environmental assessments will determine how the concerns are addressed as the project progresses.

The petition therefore adds another dimension to the ongoing discussion over infrastructure development, traffic management and protection of Bengaluru’s remaining green and water-linked spaces.