Hans News Service Bengaluru

Theproposed tunnel road in Bengaluru will no longer have an exit near Lalbagh, with the Karnataka government deciding to look for another location amid concerns over damage to the city’s iconic green space.

The earlier proposal to build a tunnel exit close to Lalbagh had faced resistance from residents and environmental activists. They had warned that the construction could consume or damage a considerable portion of the garden area.Following the objections, the government has decided against proceeding with the Lalbagh site. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has instructed the Greater Bengaluru Authority to identify another location that can accommodate the proposed tunnel exit.

The change in plan is aimed at ensuring that the infrastructure project does not come at the expense of Lalbagh’s valuable green cover and open spaces. The tunnel road is among the major infrastructure proposals being considered to address Bengaluru’s persistent traffic congestion. The project envisages underground connectivity as an alternative to adding more surface-level roads in the already congested city. However, the proposal has also triggered concerns about its impact on existing public spaces and the environment. Lalbagh, with its extensive vegetation and heritage significance, has emerged as one of the most sensitive points in the project. Residents and environmentalists had opposed the proposed exit, arguing that construction in the area could have a lasting impact on the garden. Their protests appear to have prompted the government to reconsider the location.