Need buses, metro lines, not tunnel road: Activist

The Save Bangalore Committee, a body of concerned citizens, hosted a roundtable meeting on Sunday to address critical urban policy and environ- mental challenges, focusing on a rational parking policy, the preservation of public parks, and opposition to the city’s major tunnel project. The main speakers included CIVIC Bengaluru Trustee Kathyayani Chamaraj, senior advocate Hemaltha Mahishi, President Medical Service Center Dr. Sudha Kamath and Bangalore University Geology Professor and Bio Park Special Officer Dr. T. J. Renuka Prasad.

The committee met to discuss the issues and analyse them as well as planning on methods to dissuade the government from going through with the policies and projects. Katyayani Chamaraj, Trustee CIVIC Bangalore, strongly criticized the Rs 1.5 lakh crore tunnel road project and policy changes allowing construction in public parks. She stated that instead of using the funds for the exclusionary project, the public would be better served with more buses, the Suburban Rail Project and Metro projects.

On the parking policy, she advocated for equitable parking with gig-workers and low-income drivers being exempted from paying while private vehicle owners and parking in high congestion zones being charged prohibitively. Former Geology professor Dr. T.J. Renuka Prasad spoke critically about the tunnel project, which would cut through hard rock. “If you are going through hard rock to make a tunnel, there are many failures. If you need alter natives, then there are many. The example of Singapore is signifi cant,” he said.

As the Bio Park Special Officer, he also opposed the attempts by the government to use park lands for infrastructure projects and revealed that following discussions with the Cubbon Park director regarding the Parks Preservation Act, official responsibility was shifted to the Tourism Department. Senior advocate Hemalatha Mahishi, speaking on the now withdrawn amendment of the Park Preservation Act said, “While this proposal has been temporarily withdrawn, it is bound to be reintroduced.

We must oppose this politically and demand direct intervention from the Chief Minister,” she stated, asserting that taking over park space is closely tied to real estate interests and paving the way for the controversial tunnel road project. Highlighting the scientific opposition to the project, Mahishi urged citizens to present the technical evaluation report prepared by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) before the court to strengthen legal and public resistance.

The meeting also took suggestions and inputs from the audience, with several members ready to take up the struggle in any way that was called for, including protests, petitions and meetings with the government. Convenor of the committee G Shashikumar, stated that the or ganization will formally submit a mass public objection letter to the Urban Development Department, reflecting widespread citizen resistance to unviable infrastruc- ture projects and arbitrary civic actions. Dr. Shashikumar emphasized on an active political movement to hold elected leaders accountable. He also said that the mount ing public outrage has already put authorities on the defensive, making sustained and organized pressure crucial at this juncture.