Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project Faces Setback As GSI Flags Geological, Structural And Groundwater Risks To Lalbagh
Bengaluru: The Congress government's pet project of Bengaluru Tunnel Road project may have to go back to the drawing board over its plan to build the tunnel under road beneath Lalbagh, with Geological Survey of India (GI) expert committee report flagging a series of serious geological, structural and groundwater risks to the iconic botanical garden and the three-billion-year-old Lalbagh rock.…
The Bengaluru Tunnel Road project, once a priority for the Congress government, now faces significant challenges following a report by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) committee. The report, submitted in April, highlights a host of geological, structural, and groundwater risks that could impact the iconic Lalbagh botanical garden and the ancient Lalbagh rock, dating back three billion years.
The committee warns that tunneling and excavation could damage Lalbagh's ancient rock mass, widen existing cracks, and jeopardize the Kempegowda tower. Additionally, the project poses risks of ground disturbance and changes in groundwater levels.
The controversy surrounding the ₹22,267 crore project has been ongoing since its inception, with opposition coming from Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejaswi Surya and a group of IISc scientists. They estimate the project's cost at ₹22,267 crore and are contesting it in the High Court. The project spans 16.75 km between Hebbal and Central Silk Board junction.
The government's withdrawal of the Park (Preservation) Amend Bill, 2026, due to public opposition over allegations that it aimed to divert Lalbagh land for the tunnel road project, adds to the project's woes. The five-member GSI committee recommended that the existing surface investigation in the detailed project report (DPR) be considered inadequate due to the area's complex geological setting.
They urged an independent technical review of the location of Shaft 4, adjacent to the National Geological Monument, to maximize the distance from the geological monument's rock.
The report suggests that excavation for the TBM shaft near the Lalbagh Geological Monument could induce rock fractures or destabilize parts of the formation. Changes in seepage paths within differing lithologies may also affect the Lalbagh lake and downstream areas. The GSI has made five recommendations to the government, including comprehensive geo-technical investigations and 3D geological modeling before proceeding with the project.
The report acknowledges civil society's representation to nominate Lalbagh for Unesco World Heritage site status.
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