BJP leaders launch signature drive opposing tunnel road planned near Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank

Senior BJP leaders meet walkers’ groups near Sankey Tank, denouncing the proposed tunnel road project as unscientific, environmentally damaging and planned without expert consultation.

A strong political pushback emerged in Bengaluru on Saturday as senior BJP leaders gathered near Sankey Tank to oppose the state government’s proposed tunnel road project, calling the plan “unscientific” and “environmentally unsafe.”

The protest, held at the Sankey Tank walkway, was led by Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, who joined members of the Sankey Tank Walkers Association in a large-scale signature-collection campaign to “Save Sankey Tank.”

Carrying maps of the tunnel road alignment, the BJP leaders inspected the proposed exit point near the lake. They argued that the project threatens both the historic waterbody and the surrounding parkland.

R. Ashok strongly criticised the government, stating that the tunnel plan is “an unscientific project pushed in haste without consulting experts.”

He said that while the BJP is “not against development,” the party will not support projects that damage Bengaluru’s environment or heritage. “It becomes our duty to pull the government’s ears when they take up reckless projects,” he said.

Ashoka questioned who prepared the DPR, who submitted the technical report, and why the state is “targeting historic spaces built since the era of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.”

“In the past, it was Lalbagh. Now it is Sankey Tank,” he said, alleging a pattern of encroaching on green zones. He added that Sankey Tank was once known as the ‘Gandhada Kere’, a heritage space that should not be disturbed.

He also claimed that the tunnel road would eventually burden commuters: “People will end up paying so much toll that they could buy a car for the same monthly amount. A person may end up paying ₹20,000 a month on tolls alone.”

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who flagged off the signature campaign, said the government was targeting a “centuries-old natural asset.”

“This lake is ancient. The government has set its eyes on it. We will not allow Sankey Tank to be destroyed for any reason,” she said.
Karandlaje demanded that the government reveal:

•    who prepared the DPR,
•    whose report recommended the tunnel road,
•    and what environmental studies were carried out.

“This is completely unscientific. We are here to protect Bengaluru’s environment, not let it collapse under reckless planning,” she added.

Local MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Ashwath Narayan, who has long opposed the project, also signed the petition and interacted with walkers. He reiterated that any plan affecting the lake should undergo strict expert review and environmental scrutiny.

Members of the Sankey Tank Walkers Association joined the campaign, signing placards reading ‘Save Sankey Lake’ and urging the government to drop the tunnel road plan.

Background

The  proposed Rs 18,000 crore tunnel road has triggered strong citywide opposition. Environmentalists, residents, and civic groups have raised concerns about potential damage to the lake ecosystem and nearby parkland. The issue has also caused a major political confrontation.

A heated war of words recently broke out between Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, with both sides trading allegations over the project’s necessity and environmental risks.

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Adding to this, BJP leaders, including Tejasvi Surya, recently organised a separate signature campaign at Lalbagh, opposing what they allege is a broader pattern of targeting green zones in the city. These earlier protests have now transitioned to Sankey Tank as the controversy expands.

With public pressure mounting and political tensions escalating, the future of the tunnel road project remains uncertain.