Bengaluru's Rs 50,000 Crore Twin-Tunnel Project Under NGT Scrutiny: Environmental Alarm Bells Ring

Bengaluru's ambitious and highly controversial twin-tunnel road project, envisioned to cost a staggering Rs 50,000 crore, has hit a significant roadblock. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued stern notices to a slew of government bodies, demanding answers regarding the project's environmental implications and the alleged bypass of crucial regulatory procedures.

This intervention comes after environmental activists and citizen groups raised a unified voice against what they describe as an ecological disaster in the making.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is championing this massive infrastructure undertaking, proposing a network of 100 kilometers of twin-tunnel roads beneath the city.

While the stated goal is to alleviate Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion, critics argue that the project is not only economically exorbitant but also environmentally unsustainable, threatening the city's already fragile ecosystem.

Acting on a petition filed by environmental activist D.T.

Devare, the NGT's Principal Bench in New Delhi has called for responses from key stakeholders. Among those served notices are the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the Government of Karnataka, the BBMP itself, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA).

The petition meticulously detailed how the project reportedly circumvented mandatory environmental impact assessments (EIA) and public consultation processes, which are fundamental for projects of such magnitude.

Environmentalists and urban planners alike have voiced deep concerns. They argue that instead of solving traffic woes, the tunnels might merely shift the problem, inducing more private vehicle usage and exacerbating pollution.

Furthermore, the construction of such extensive underground infrastructure poses severe risks to Bengaluru's groundwater table, its dwindling green cover, and its remaining lake systems – vital components of the city's ecological balance.

Groups like 'Citizens for Bengaluru' have been at the forefront of this protest, advocating for sustainable transport solutions such as improved public transport, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly zones, rather than costly, environmentally damaging road expansion.

The NGT's intervention now places the burden of proof squarely on the authorities to demonstrate the project's necessity, its environmental clearances, and its long-term viability. This development marks a critical juncture for Bengaluru, as the city grapples with the challenge of balancing rapid urbanization with ecological preservation.