Tejasvi Surya tells DK Shivakumar: Scrap ₹47,000 crore tunnel road, focus on metro and bus lanes

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya meets Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, discusses Bengaluru’s transport crisis, urges investment in Metro, bus lanes, and suburban rail instead of tunnel road.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has voiced strong opposition to the proposed ₹47,000 crore tunnel road project in Bengaluru after a detailed discussion with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Speaking to reporters, Surya said such high-cost projects offer little relief from traffic jams and urged that the same funds be used to strengthen the city’s Metro, bus, and suburban rail networks.

Also Read:Amazon to lay off 30,000 employees in major global restructuring drive

He suggested the creation of a dedicated bus lane along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to connect commuters between K.R. Puram Metro Station and Silk Board Metro Station, saying it would significantly reduce congestion if coordinated with Metro services.

Surya also emphasized the need for a permanent chairperson for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) to ensure coordination between BMTC, Metro, Suburban Rail, and Traffic Police. He revealed that he discussed ideas to make Bengaluru’s transport system efficient and globally comparable.

He noted that while a tunnel road would move just 1,800 people per hour per direction, the same investment in Metro could move over 69,000 passengers per hour, making the latter far more cost-effective.

Also Read:Bengaluru Traffic Police flags 103 “Unscientific” bus stops; Relocation plan underway

Surya said, “Flyovers and tunnels have not solved traffic anywhere. We must think long-term and focus on moving more people, not just vehicles.”

The MP added that during the meeting, he shared his insights on international urban transport models first studied during the S.M. Krishna-Ananth Kumar era. He also mentioned discussions on improving city roads to meet global standards and ensuring accountability in civic projects.

Surya further confirmed that he will convene a meeting with officials in the next two weeks to discuss ORR traffic solutions and reaffirmed his commitment to support the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project.

Also Read:Bengaluru records 18 births and 9 deaths every hour: City tops Karnataka in both life and loss

“This was a positive meeting. Our goal is to make Bengaluru better. I’m hopeful that the government will accept these practical suggestions,” he said.