Tue Jan 07 17:02:48 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project’s ₹65 Crore Tree-Cutting Estimate Raises Eyebrows
**Bengaluru, January 7, 2025** – The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed 18-km tunnel road connecting Hebbal and Silk Board in Bengaluru has sparked controversy due to its estimated ₹65 crore cost for tree removal, relocation, and landscaping. This constitutes a significant portion of the project’s total estimated cost of ₹14,981 crore.
The DPR, prepared by Rodic Consultants Pvt. Ltd. in a remarkably short three-month timeframe, lacks crucial details, according to critics. While the report mentions artwork, beautification, and planting within the tunnel, it fails to specify the number of trees affected, the nature of the artwork, or the specifics of the landscaping plans.
Dattatreya T. Devare of the Bengaluru Environment Trust expressed serious concerns, questioning not only the tree-cutting estimate but also the overall project cost. He highlighted the unusually short preparation time and suggested potential data inaccuracies, citing the inclusion of information seemingly related to Maharashtra, raising suspicions of a “copy-paste” job. Devare emphasized the impossibility of accurate cost estimation without detailed data on tree numbers and specific designs for artwork and landscaping.
The BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) is currently reviewing the DPR. The significant cost allocated to tree-related activities and the lack of transparency in the DPR have raised significant environmental and financial concerns.
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