A collective of citizens, students, and civil society organisations on Saturday submitted a detailed representation to M. Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), opposing the Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project and demanding the project be halted immediately.

The representation raised concerns over the project’s environmental impact, lack of scientific basis, huge public expenditure, and the absence of meaningful public consultation.

The representation argued that the proposed tunnel road was unlikely to resolve Bengaluru’s traffic congestion and cited independent studies that found that mass public transport systems such as buses and metro networks can carry significantly larger numbers of commuters at a fraction of the cost.

They further stated that the project prioritises private vehicles while posing serious ecological risks, including possible disruption to groundwater systems and damage to Lalbagh Botanical Garden. They also contend that the project had bypassed statutory bodies and had drawn criticism from mobility experts for allegedly running contrary to Bengaluru’s Climate Action Plan and broader urban mobility objectives.

The representation was signed by over 1,000 citizens across the city. The campaign was jointly organised by All India Students’ Association, Fridays For Future, and Collective.