Copyright thehindubusinessline
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya held discussions with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday regarding the contentious Bengaluru tunnel project. He proposed a comprehensive transport vision aligned with the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), targeting 70 per cent public transport modal share by 2031. His blueprint includes 317 km of metro operating at a three-minute frequency on every line and buses running every five minutes. In a post on X following the meeting, Surya dismissed the tunnel project as inadequate for resolving the city’s traffic woes. His counter-proposal includes a suburban rail network spanning 314 kilometers, tram systems for shorter journeys, and expansion of the BMTC fleet by 5,000 buses. He also called for establishing a Bus Rapid Transit corridor along the Outer Ring Road and appointing a dedicated full-time chairman for BMLTA. The MP estimates this rail infrastructure could transfer more than 70 per cent of daily commuters away from road transport. This comes at a time when Bengaluru has been under intense scrutiny for its deteriorating infrastructure. On Saturday, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Aarin Capital’s TV Mohandas Pai buried the hatchet after a public spat over the city’s crumbling roads and civic amenities. Following meetings at the Deputy CM’s residence, both business leaders have pledged to collaborate on the city’s development, a reset as political uncertainty looms over the state. Published on October 28, 2025
