‘No one except god can stop me’: D K Shivakumar defends tunnel road project amid opposition

Deputy CM D K Shivakumar doubles down on Bengaluru’s tunnel road proposal, says it’s the city’s future solution to traffic woes, despite opposition from MP Tejasvi Surya.

In a defiant tone that stirred both supporters and critics, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday reaffirmed his commitment to the ambitious Bengaluru tunnel road project, brushing aside political opposition with a striking statement, “No one except God can stop me.”

Speaking during his ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ initiative at Cubbon Park, the Bengaluru Development Minister said the underground tunnel road was not just a political project but a forward-looking urban necessity. “We cannot keep widening roads endlessly. That means destroying homes and paying double in compensation. The tunnel road is a smarter, more efficient solution,” he said.

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The project, however, has drawn strong criticism from Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya, who has called it an ill-planned move. Shivakumar said he has invited Surya to offer an alternative plan. “If his idea is better, I will consider it,” he remarked, maintaining that his focus was solely on Bengaluru’s future.

During the event, a citizen proposed holding a design contest to shape the city’s future road network, a suggestion Shivakumar immediately welcomed. “Let citizens be part of the solution,” he said, directing officials to reach out to the participant.

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The Deputy CM said ‘Walk with Bengaluru’ had already received thousands of grievances and civic ideas. He announced plans to replicate parks like Cubbon Park and Lalbagh across the city, promising 10–15 new green spaces. The initiative, he said, will now take place every weekend.

On broader infrastructure, Shivakumar said he has instructed his team to engage with IT CEOs along the Outer Ring Road, a key tech corridor, to ease mobility bottlenecks. He also urged the Centre to clear pending approvals for Namma Metro’s Red Line. “The state is investing heavily, the Centre’s share is only 12-13%. We need faster clearances to serve people better,” he said.