The Karnataka state government is considering a shift in the alignment of the proposed 16.75-kilometer twin-tunnel road corridor in Bengaluru to avoid taking land from the historic Lalbagh Botanical Garden. The ₹17,698-crore infrastructure project, designed to link Hebbal with the Central Silk Board junction to relieve severe urban traffic congestion, had initially required temporary acquisition of six acres and permanent takeover of one acre of park land for entry and exit ramps. This proposal provoked intense resistance from environmental activists, city residents, and opposition political parties, who raised concerns about ecological damage and potential harm to the three-billion-year-old Peninsular Gneiss rock structure.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that he instructed Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and project engineers to evaluate technical alternatives for entry and exit points. The decision follows the recent withdrawal of the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which would have allowed up to five percent of protected park space for public utilities. Officials are currently surveying surrounding locations, including government-owned plots near NIMHANS and Wilson Garden, to determine a feasible rerouting that preserves the botanical sanctuary while advancing city infrastructure goals.
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