Bengaluru: In a rare show of political bipartisanship, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya met Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday to discuss sustainable transport
solutions for Bengaluru, urging the state government to drop the proposed car-only tunnel project and instead invest in expanding mass rapid transit systems such as metro and suburban rail.
What Was Discussed in the Meeting?
Following the meeting, Surya said both leaders agreed that strengthening public transport was the only long-term solution to decongest the city. “We discussed ideas and proposals to decongest Bengaluru and provide sustainable transport solutions,” Surya told reporters, adding, “I urged that funds proposed for the car-only tunnel project be redirected towards expanding mass rapid transit systems like the metro. Our focus should be on moving more people, not just more cars.”Surya pointed out that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the tunnel itself showed inefficiency compared to rail-based transport. “Even the DPR shows that while the tunnel can carry around 1,800 vehicles per hour, a metro system can transport nearly 69,000 people in the same time,” he said.
VIDEO | Bengaluru: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, after meeting Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, says, “We discussed ideas and proposals to decongest Bengaluru and provide sustainable transport solutions. I urged that funds proposed for the car-only tunnel project be redirected towards expanding… pic.twitter.com/WiPDsgbjHn
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 28, 2025
Bengaluru Tunnel Project: Controversy and Concerns
The proposed tunnel road project, aimed at easing traffic in central Bengaluru, has been facing criticism for its high cost and limited impact. Surya said he reiterated his opposition during the meeting, citing both environmental and urban planning concerns. “Our objection to the tunnel project is not just on environmental grounds but because money should be spent to move more people, not build more roads,” he said, adding that the DCM assured him no damage would be caused to the historic Lalbagh area as part of the project.
Tejasvi’s Proposal for ORR and Transport Coordination
Surya also urged the government to improve coordination among transport agencies and prioritise last-mile connectivity. “I requested the DCM to appoint a chairman for BMLTA, which should be empowered to coordinate between different transport parastatals and come up with a comprehensive plan,” he said.
He further suggested a dedicated bus loop every five to ten minutes along the Outer Ring Road between KR Puram and Silk Board to ease daily congestion for office commuters. “Our vision should be to have 300 kilometres of metro and 300 kilometres of suburban rail, making mobility in Bengaluru affordable and efficient,” he said.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On meeting Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya says, "Political attacks, asking the opposition questions, asking the government questions will continue because that is the nature of our responsibilities. I also feel that as responsible… https://t.co/SUReZPuTrR pic.twitter.com/p21XXQ02I9
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2025
Shivakumar, according to Surya, responded positively and agreed to hold another meeting next week with officials and industry representatives to deliberate further.
“He almost took out an hour and sat with me to discuss the sustainable solutions for Bengaluru,” Surya said, calling the interaction “a very productive meeting” that reflected “a sincere, bipartisan approach to fix Bengaluru’s traffic woes.”
