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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Monsoon session: BJP to raise BBMP split, tunnel road plans in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: BJP has stepped up its opposition to the proposed tunnel road project and the plan to divide BBMP into five municipal corporations. Party MLAs from Bengaluru met in the city Saturday to chalk out a strategy and announced plans to raise both issues in the upcoming legislature session. The meeting was chaired by the opposition leader in the legislative assembly, R Ashoka, and BJP state president BY Vijayendra. Speaking to reporters, Ashoka accused the Congress govt of pursuing the BBMP split for electoral gains. "The division of BBMP is being carried out solely to ensure the Congress party's electoral victory and not for the city's development. We are opposing the plan to divide Bengaluru into five corporations. This is harmful to the interests of the city. In the future, one corporation may end up fighting with another," he said. He added BJP had already approached the judiciary. "Petitions have been filed in both the high court and Supreme Court." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru "Congress knows that if BBMP continues to remain in its present form, it cannot win elections. So, they are pushing for its division. They have imposed taxes on everything and are hoping to win at least two corporations and showcase it to (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Ashoka also alleged irregularities in the tunnel road project. "We don't object to the concept of a tunnel road. But they have allowed a dubious company to prepare the DPR. The company was caught copying details from another project and fined Rs 15 lakh. After this, the company should have been blacklisted, not given further responsibility worth Rs 7-8 crore." He warned, "Metro is already being constructed underground in Bengaluru. If a tunnel road is built beneath it, it could compromise safety." Echoing Ashoka's views, Vijayendra said, "Projects like the underground tunnel road and the division of BBMP into five are not in the best interest of the city. Similar experiments in cities like Mumbai have failed. BJP will continue to oppose it." He also highlighted concerns over housing approvals. "Thousands of houses are ready for housewarming, but NOCs have not been issued. We held a detailed discussion on it today," he added.
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Tree loss due to Bengaluru metro construction less than feared, at 6,800: Report
Bengaluru's Metro expansion plans have sparked intense debate over the impact on the city's greenery, but new figures indicate the loss of trees may not be as severe as once anticipated. Officials with the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) announced on Monday that, after a detailed internal review, approximately 6,800 trees are expected to be affected by the Phase 3 construction, down significantly from the earlier projection of 11,000, The Times of India reported. An aerial view shows the Namma Metro train of Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), riding over a flyover in Bengaluru.(AFP) Kanakaraj MH, BMRCL's assistant environment engineer, spoke to the publication and clarified that not every tree identified will necessarily be removed. He explained that some trees will be cut down, others will be transplanted to new locations, and several are likely to remain in place, depending on the developments encountered during building. READ | BJP's R Ashoka backs SIT for Dharmasthala burial claims, urges neutrality in investigation: Report The reassessment follows heightened pressure from local environmental advocates, who voiced concerns about the broader ecological toll of the metro's growth. Monday's public consultation meeting became a forum for activists to demand precise accounts of tree felling, pruning, relocation, as well as details about where transplanted trees will go and which species and tree ages are involved, the report stated. An environmental campaigner emphasized the need for concrete data rather than general assurances. She demanded to know the exact numbers — how many will be preserved, how many pruned or relocated, and the specifics on species and age, while reacting to the meeting's discussions. READ | Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 set for Nov 18-20 at BIEC with theme 'Futurise': Report Questions were also raised about the cumulative effects of metro-related construction on Bengaluru's air and noise quality, especially following earlier phases. Kanakaraj conceded that metro developments contribute to these challenges, though he noted other sources also play a role and the impact is not uniformly high. Responding to calls for accountability, BMRCL reaffirmed its commitment to reforestation, promising to plant 10 saplings for every tree removed. These new trees will be planted within city limits and maintained for a minimum of three years. Nonetheless, activists remain doubtful — seeking updates on the success of earlier compensatory planting and data about the survival rate of relocated trees, the report said. BMRCL's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the new construction phase is nearing completion, according to officials. Input from residents and non-governmental organizations is being gathered, with publication of the EIA anticipated by October following final reviews.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CM announces Rs 50 cr for MLAs to carry out development work
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to MLAs announcing that Rs 50 crore will be allocated to their assembly constituencies for the development work. There has been discontent among the legislators, including those from the ruling Congress, about lack of fund allocation for development work in their constituencies. "Under the Chief Minister's Infrastructure Development Programme announced in the State Budget for the year 2025-26, a special grant of Rs 50.00 crores will be allocated to your assembly constituency," Siddaramaiah said in a letter dated July 15 to MLAs. It said, "The amount of grant for the works has been fixed as follows. Public Works Department, road and bridge works, rural road and bridge, and urban area works: Rs 37.50 crore. Other departmental works that may be selected by the members of the Legislative Assembly at their discretion: Rs 12.50 crore." MLAs have been asked to provide details of the works in a specified format along with their demand letter to the Chief Minister, it said, adding that a district-wise meeting of MLAs has been arranged on July 30 and 31 in Room No.-313, Committee Room, 3rd Floor, Vidhana Soudha, and the legislators have been asked to attend the meeting along with details of the works. Though the letter nowhere specifies the allocation of funds is only for Congress MLAs, the BJP and JD(S), however, have alleged discrimination. Official sources too have said that the funds will be released to all MLAs. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, urging the CM to provide equal funding for all MLAs to ensure balanced development, alleged discrimination stating that the BJP and JD(S) MLAs will be given Rs 25 crore, as per the information he has got.
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Deccan Herald
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
BJP accuses Congress of targeting Opposition
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka took to social media platform X to denounce the Congress-led government, "If Congress continues its vindictive politics and targets opposition legislators, BJP will be compelled to launch a fierce struggle against this government," Ashoka wrote.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
R Ashoka urges deportation of Pakistan and Bangladesh nationals amid LeT-linked arrests in Karnataka
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and senior BJP leader R Ashoka on Wednesday demanded the immediate deportation of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals residing illegally in the state, warning that their presence could pose a serious threat to national security. Karnataka Opposition leader R Ashoka. (PTI) Also Read - Bengaluru-based Instagram page under fire for filming women on streets without consent, admin arrested His statement comes in the wake of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arresting three individuals from Karnataka, including a prison psychiatrist and a police officer, for alleged links to a radicalisation network connected to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Following NIA searches at five locations in Bengaluru and Kolar, three people were arrested, Dr. Nagaraj, a psychiatrist at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison; Assistant Sub-Inspector Chan Pasha; and Anees Fathima, the mother of an absconding suspect. These arrests are part of an investigation into terror-linked prison radicalisation activities in the state. Calling the arrests alarming, Ashoka criticised the Congress-led state government for what he termed a lack of seriousness in tackling terrorism and alleged vote bank politics. Also Read - Bengaluru commuters slam 'unscientific' traffic signals on Outer Ring Road, seek police fix 'The NIA has arrested three individuals who pose a serious threat to national security. Unfortunately, the state's Home Department is directionless and there seems to be no accountability,' he said at a press conference. Ashoka alleged that the state government had been hesitant in deporting illegal Pakistani nationals, even after directions from the Centre, and warned that such leniency was emboldening terror-related elements. The BJP leader called for the creation of a dedicated task force to identify and deport all illegal Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals in Karnataka. He also urged full cooperation with central agencies like the NIA in dismantling extremist networks operating within the state. 'The state should stop playing politics over national security. It must cooperate fully with NIA and take measures to ensure prisons are not turned into hubs for radicalisation,' Ashoka said. Highlighting reports that prison officials helped smuggle mobile phones to inmates, he said this points to a larger network that must be rooted out. He urged the Home Department to monitor jail communications and thoroughly investigate how such internal support systems are facilitating radical ideologies. (With PTI inputs)
