Give me a year, I'll fix Bengaluru, says Surya as he slams tunnel road project
BJP MP
Tejasvi Surya
Monday launched a blistering attack on the govt, slamming its Rs 17,780 crore tunnel road project and insisting that if he "held as much power as the deputy CM for just one year," he would "solve all problems in Bengaluru".
Surya, who represents Bangalore South in the Lok Sabha, called the tunnel project unscientific which serves the elite while burdening the masses. He said the 18km Hebbal-to-Silk Board tunnel road is for "crorepatis of Sadashivanagar and millionaires of Koramangala 4th Block".
He said the proposed toll of Rs 660 and the Rs 7,100 crore viability gap funding makes the project economically unjustifiable. "Why should 90% of Bengalureans, who don't own cars, pay for something that only benefits 10%?" he asked.
You Can Also Check:
Bengaluru AQI
|
Weather in Bengaluru
|
Bank Holidays in Bengaluru
|
Public Holidays in Bengaluru
He said the tunnel would carry just 1,600 vehicles per hour if restricted to cars, while a Namma Metro line could transport 25,000 people hourly. "This is economic untouchability," he said. "Instead of easing traffic, this project will worsen congestion by encouraging more private vehicles."
Surya accused the govt of bypassing due process by pushing ahead without clearance from Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), mandatory under the BMLTA Act.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid
WellnessGuide
Learn more
Undo
"None of the goals under the Comprehensive Mobility Plan have been met, but they are still pushing this tunnel," he said.
He alleged large-scale irregularities in preparation of the detailed project report (DPR), which cost Rs 9.5 crore but was allegedly copied from a BMRCL report that cost just Rs 1.6 crore. He said the feasibility report was prepared by a consultant barred in a Madhya Pradesh NHAI project, while the firm behind the DPR is facing a Rs 500 crore scam probe in Jammu and Kashmir. "The DPR was completed before the feasibility study," he said.
He also lambasted Congress for neglecting core civic infrastructure. "Over 20 flyovers have been pending for five to six years. At this speed, it'll take 800 years to build 100 flyovers," he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi to appear before MP/MLA court in Lucknow today
: Congress MP from Rae Bareli and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will appear before the MP/MLA court in Lucknow on Tuesday in a case related to disparaging remarks allegedly made by him about a face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers. The comments were allegedly made during the Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 16, 2022. Congress MP from Rae Bareli and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi (File photo) Advocate Vivek Tewari had filed the complaint against Rahul Gandhi on behalf of Uday Shankar Srivastava, a former director of the Border Roads Organisation with a rank equivalent to an Army colonel, in January 2023. Rahul Gandhi's alleged statement was derogatory towards the Army and hurt the sentiments of the armed forces, according to the complainant. Additional chief judicial magistrate Alok Verma, Lucknow, had earlier directed Rahul Gandhi to appear before the court on March 24, 2025, in the defamation case filed against him. Gandhi had challenged the additional CJM's order, passed on February 11, 2025, in the high court but did not get relief. Dismissing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's petition, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court held that the right to freedom of speech and expression does not extend to making defamatory statements against the Indian Army. Gandhi had challenged the summons by a local court in connection with a case related to his alleged remarks on the Indian Army. A single-judge bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on June 2, 2025, passed the order, rejecting Rahul Gandhi's petition challenging the additional CJM's order. 'No doubt, Article 19(1) of the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech and expression, this freedom is subject to the reasonable restrictions and it does not include the freedom to make statements which are defamatory to any person or defamatory to the Indian Army,' the high court observed. The high court dismissal of his petition paved the way for Rahul Gandhi to face trial in the lower court.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Rs 143 cr for repairs to Gurukul, welfare hostels
Ongole: Social Welfare Minister Dr Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneyaswami said that the coalition government has allocated Rs 143 crore for repairing the Gurukula and Welfare Hostels, as part of its commitment to a golden future for underprivileged students. He conducted a surprise inspection at Dr BR Ambedkar Boys' Gurukul School in Kurichedu on Monday, examining the school premises, surroundings, and sanitation facilities. He directed staff to improve hygiene standards and interacted with students to understand their facilities and problems. Subsequently, Minister Swamy inspected repair works at SC Boys' and Girls' hostels in Podili. Speaking to parents of students there, he emphasised the importance of education for their children's future. The minister revealed that repair works are 90 percent complete at Podili SC Boys' Hostel and 70 percent complete at the Girls' Hostel. The coalition government is providing all necessary facilities to students, as Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's goal is to help poor students rise to greater heights in society, the minister said.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pakistan to create new paramilitary force ahead of protests by Imran Khan's party
The announcement came after PTI party said it would stage nationwide protests starting on Aug 5, the second anniversary of Imran Khan's arrest ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Monday it was creating a national paramilitary force, prompting concern among opposition parties and human rights groups that it could be used as a tool of political repression. The move turns an existing paramilitary force deployed on Pakistan's northwestern border with Afghanistan into a national security force that will be called the Federal Constabulary, state minister for the interior Talal Chaudhry told a press conference in the eastern city of Faisalabad. Its new duties will include internal security, riot control and counter-terrorism, according to a copy of the amended law reported by the local Dunya News TV. The announcement came after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former jailed PM Imran Khan said it would stage nationwide protests starting on Aug 5, the second anniversary of his arrest. Several such protests since his Aug 2023 arrest have turned violent, in some cases paralysing the capital Islamabad for days. 'This will be a new force. This will be a stronger force. We need this force for internal security,' Chaudhry said, adding that President Asif Ali Zardari had already approved amendments in the law introducing changes in the paramilitary force. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The new force replaces the Frontier Constabulary (FC), whose cadres were previously recruited only from tribes in the northwestern province, Chaudhry said. Training of the new force will bring it into line with other national law enforcement agencies, he added. Khan's party spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari said the changes should be subject to parliamentary discussion. The new force 'should not be used as a gimmick to silence political opponents, as has been previously witnessed when the government applied such laws against a large number of the PTI leadership and supporters,' he said. His concern was echoed by Haris Khalique, secretary of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent body. 'We are alarmed by the changes being made to the security and law enforcement structure of the country without any debate in parliament,' Khalique said. REUTERS
