{
  "id": 3744860,
  "title": "How Karnataka’s Parks and BMLTA amendments may shield Tunnel Road project | Explained",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/how-karnatakas-parks-and-bmlta-amendments-may-shield-tunnel-road",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T13:37:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/how-will-karnatakas-parks-and-bmlta-amendments-shield-tunnel-road-project-explained/article71395157.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Karnataka's recent Monsoon Session, the state government passed two bills - the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (BMLTA). These bills were passed without debate due to opposition protests against including scam-accused B. Nagendra as a minister. The bills are now being linked to the controversial Tunnel Road project, a key initiative of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.\n\nThe Parks Bill has faced significant backlash from the public, civic activists, environmentalists, and literature figures. Progressive thinkers and Kannada writers have urged the government to repeal the amendments. The primary concern is that the amendments are intended to protect the Tunnel Road project from legal challenges, as three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) are currently being heard in court.\n\nThe Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975, was originally designed to protect government parks and gardens. However, the 2026 amendment changes this by allowing the State government to take or use up to 5% of land inside protected parks for public infrastructure and projects. This general statutory mechanism replaces the previous project-specific approach, making it easier for the government to acquire land.\n\nThe amendment mandates a committee headed by an Additional Chief Secretary-level officer to assess the need for alienation before the government uses 5% of the land. The committee recommendation is required before the State government decides if the proposed use is in the \"public interest.\" However, the Bill does not define \"public interest\" or \"public utility.\" Critics argue that these terms are vague, creating loopholes that could benefit the Tunnel Road project.\n\nThe Tunnel Road project requires about an acre of land in Lalbagh permanently and additional acres temporarily during construction. With the new amendment, about 65 acres of park land could be at risk. Despite assurances from Shivakumar and BSMILE's technical director, fears persist about the impact on Lalbagh's historic botanical garden, lakes, and green cover. The same concerns have led to silent protests in Lalbagh.",
  "summary": "The groups opposing the Tunnel Road project say that at the core of the two new amendments is an agenda to shield the project, against which three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) are currently being heard in court.",
  "key_points": [
    "Karnataka passed two bills in Monsoon Session without debate.",
    "Amendments protect Tunnel Road project from legal challenges.",
    "65 acres of Lalbagh park land could be at risk."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}