Just days after reportedly labeling some opponents of the Twin Tunnel Road as ‘sadists,’ Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made a significant announcement on Saturday. He assured the public that not a single tree would be cut down, and no more than half an acre of land within Bengaluru’s iconic Lalbagh botanical garden would be acquired for the controversial project.
The proposed Twin Tunnel Road, which is planned to occupy a portion of Lalbagh – one of Bengaluru’s most cherished green spaces – has been a major source of contention, drawing strong opposition from various civic groups and environmental activists.
Deputy CM Urged to Reconsider Amid Citizen Concerns
During a public interaction as part of the ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ campaign in Lalbagh on Saturday, numerous citizens, particularly senior residents, voiced their concerns about the reported use of Lalbagh land for the tunnel project. They earnestly appealed to Mr. Shivakumar to reconsider the plan.
In response, the Deputy Chief Minister firmly dismissed reports suggesting that six acres of land would be acquired, labeling them as ‘false.’ He clarified, “We need just half an acre behind the rock hill for the entry and exit points near Ashoka Pillar. Additionally, about one acre will be used temporarily for storage during construction and will be cleared afterward.”
He further added that any plants in the temporary storage area would be carefully removed and replanted once the construction work is complete, ensuring minimal long-term impact.
When a senior citizen directly questioned the use of Lalbagh’s land for the Tunnel Road, Mr. Shivakumar responded with conviction: “This park belongs to the citizens. I am no one to touch it. If I do, my head won’t be spared.” He assured them that all necessary modifications would be made to guarantee the project does not harm Lalbagh’s integrity.
He also explained that the tunnel tube itself would pass entirely underground, thereby causing no surface-level damage to the park. However, he did not explicitly address a key concern flagged by activists: whether the tunnel would pass directly beneath Lalbagh. Environmentalists fear this could still affect the deep root systems of other trees within the green space.
Activists continue to emphasize that the absence of a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) makes it challenging to accurately evaluate the potential long-term effects on the park’s diverse flora, particularly concerning the extensive root networks of its mature trees.