Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
A petition against the proposed Hebbal Short Tunnel project has crossed 20,000 signatures, with citizens calling on the Karnataka Government to pause the project and commission independent studies on its possible environmental, traffic and safety implications.
Titled “Save Bengaluru’s Green-Blue Landscape”, the petition was launched on Change.org on August 3.
A petition opposing the 2.2 km Hebbal Short Tunnel project in Bengaluru, which includes felling 1,128 trees, has garnered over 20,000 signatures, urging the Karnataka Government to pause construction for independent environmental, traffic, and safety assessments.
The campaign is seeking greater scrutiny of the project before construction moves ahead, particularly over its possible impact on the green spaces, water bodies, groundwater and drainage network around Hebbal.
Citizens demand independent studies
The petitioners have called for independent environmental, hydrological, traffic and safety assessments before the project proceeds.
A key concern is how construction could affect groundwater, drainage channels and stormwater movement in and around Hebbal.
The petition argues that these aspects should be examined before any work begins that could result in changes that may be difficult to reverse.
The campaign has also sought greater transparency from the authorities, including access to the technical studies and documents prepared for the project.
2.2-km tunnel planned through Veterinary College campus
The proposed Hebbal Short Tunnel is expected to stretch for around 2.2 km, connecting Hebbal Junction with the University of Agricultural Sciences staff quarters.
The proposed alignment passes through the Veterinary College campus.
The project has also drawn attention over the proposed felling of 1,128 trees.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has invited objections and suggestions from the public on the tree-felling proposal.
Citizens opposing the project have linked the tree issue to wider concerns about the impact of construction on Hebbal’s green spaces and its water-linked landscape.
Petition seeks DPR, traffic and hydrological studies
The petitioners have also asked the authorities to make key project documents available for public scrutiny.
These include the Detailed Project Report, traffic model, tree survey, groundwater and hydrological studies, and safety assessments.
They have further called for an independent technical review of the project.
According to the campaign, making these documents public would allow residents, experts and other stakeholders to understand the project’s potential impact before construction advances.
The main demand remains a temporary pause to allow the concerns to be independently examined.
Why Hebbal Lake is a concern
The possible impact on Hebbal Lake and the surrounding drainage system is among the main issues raised by the petitioners.
They have questioned whether construction could alter existing groundwater conditions or the movement of stormwater in the area.
However, these are concerns raised by the petition campaign and should not be treated as an independent finding that the project will cause such impacts.
The petition is specifically seeking hydrological and environmental studies to establish what effect, if any, the project could have on the area’s water systems.
The issue has also gained importance amid Bengaluru’s recurring problems with waterlogging during heavy rainfall, making stormwater management a key consideration in infrastructure planning.
Petition founder questions traffic benefits
Puneet Sachdev, who started the petition, has also questioned whether the proposed tunnel will deliver the expected relief from congestion in Hebbal.
Sachdev said his concerns were influenced by his familiarity with the Veterinary College campus and the area around Hebbal Lake.
He has questioned whether the tunnel would adequately address the area’s traffic problems and has argued for greater emphasis on public transport, including the Metro.
These views form part of the petition campaign’s position and are not an independent assessment of the tunnel’s likely traffic benefits.
1,128 trees proposed to be felled
The proposed felling of 1,128 trees has emerged as another major point of public concern.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has invited objections and suggestions from citizens and other stakeholders regarding the proposal.
The petitioners have connected the tree-felling proposal with their larger concerns about protecting Hebbal’s green and water-linked landscape.
They are seeking an independent examination of the environmental consequences before the project moves ahead.
Hebbal tunnel project under public scrutiny
The petition crossing the 20,000-signature mark shows the level of public interest surrounding the proposed project.
However, the petition itself does not determine whether the tunnel will proceed or whether its alignment will change.
The project’s future will depend on the Government’s decision-making process, technical assessments, statutory requirements and the objections and suggestions received from the public.
For the campaigners, the immediate demand is clear: pause the project, make the relevant documents public and carry out independent environmental, hydrological, traffic and safety assessments before construction begins.
The proposed 2.2-km tunnel, its alignment through the Veterinary College campus and the proposed removal of 1,128 trees are likely to remain at the centre of the debate.
The Government’s response and the findings of the relevant assessments will determine how these concerns are addressed as the project moves forward.
