'Brand Bengaluru' caught between DK Shivakumar’s vanity projects and city's crumbling infra

Bengaluru — known as India’s Silicon Valley — has a population of around 1.6 crore. Citizens have been expressing concerns about pothole-ridden roads, water-logging on arterial roads and subways during rains, stalled infrastructure such as flyovers, and worsening traffic congestion due to a surge in private vehicle ownership following the Covid-19 pandemic and the suspension of work-from-home (WFH)  facilities.

In June 2023, Shivakumar sought suggestions and feedback from the public, and received around 70,000 responses. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Ramaiah Institute of Management were academic partners of the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative, which analysed public feedback and conducted a stakeholders' consultation meeting.

Also, read: Brand Bengaluru: 70,000 suggestions from citizens; ball in Karnataka govt's court

However, Shivakumar has been pushing for his vanity projects such as tunnel roads, Skydeck, double-decker (Metro-cum-Road) flyovers, elevated corridors, Metro extension to the outskirts of the city, and an amusement park near the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Mandya to leave behind a legacy.

This contrasts with IISc's stance. In its study, IISC observed that people tend to use tunnel roads to travel at faster speeds, which eventually leads to congestion. "Across all dimensions of Quality of Life (QOL), a greater positive effect is observed with the expansion of the operational metro network by 2031. Prioritising and completing the proposed metro network on time, without delays, should be a top priority.", the IISc study said.

Also, read: Bengaluru traffic: IISc bats for Inner Ring underground Metro over DKS’ tunnel road plan

The state cabinet on August 22 approved the construction of an 18.5 km twin-tube tunnel road between Hebbal Flyover (Esteem Mall) and Silk Board Junction Flyover for Rs 12,690 crore. It also approved the building of a 250 m-high Skydeck near NICE Road at Hemmigepura, at an estimated project cost of Rs 500 crore. However, detailed project reports (DPRs) for the tunnel road and Skydeck are yet to be prepared. Though Bengaluru Metro also submitted a DPR for the 37-km metro corridor — connecting Hebbal and Sarjapur — to the state government last month, it is yet to be approved by the government.

Tunnel vision

Ashish Verma, professor and Convenor, IISc Sustainable Transportation Lab, told Moneycontrol: "Projects like tunnel roads only reflect the 'tunnel vision' of decision-makers. These projects will not build Brand Bengaluru; they'll destroy it".

Sources said BBMP has already engaged Turkiye-based Altinok Consulting Engineering Inc. for a feasibility study on an 18-km tunnel road connecting Hebbal and Central Silk Board at a cost of Rs 4.7 crore. BBMP has also roped in New Delhi-based Rodic Consultants Private Limited to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the same corridor for Rs 9.4 crore.

Also, read: Rodic Consultants to prepare DPR for Bengaluru's first tunnel road; to submit report in two months

Last year, Shivakumar said he would not bow to public pressure. "Many give me suggestions of building tunnels and flyovers. In the previous Siddaramaiah regime, the government wanted to build a steel bridge [Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal, 6.7 km], but there was a huge uproar and outrage over it. Siddaramaiah and KJ George [former Bengaluru development minister] got scared. If I were in their position, I wouldn't have budged and would have gone ahead with it," Shivakumar said.

Also, read: Bengaluru's traffic conundrum: Metro rail to the outskirts, suburban rail confined to city limits, and tunnel vision

Verma said these projects traffic problems don't address greenhouse gas emissions and are a drain on resources. "Cities like Paris and London, with similar populations, have over 250 km of Metro network, while Bengaluru has just 73 km. 'Brand Bengaluru' should aim to be a 'Sustainable and Livable Bengaluru,' with clear development goals, measurable targets, and a focus on public transport and quality of life. Transportation planning should go beyond reducing congestion and volume/capacity ratios to include reducing vehicle kilometers traveled and dependence on fossil fuels."

Bursting at the seams

Bengaluru's road network spans 14,000 km, with major roads comprising less than 20 per cent of the total. As of July, the city has a total vehicle population of 1.18 crore, including 79.27 lakh two-wheelers and 24.26 lakh cars. In 2013-2014, Bengaluru had 58.9 lakh vehicles, including 37.8 and 13.1 lakh two-wheelers and cars, respectively.

Also, read: Tech hub Bengaluru ranks 6th most congested city globally in 2023: TomTom report

On an average, around 2,000 vehicles are registered daily in Bengaluru, including around 1,350 two-wheelers and about 350 cars. With 1.18 crore registered vehicles, plus additional vehicles from other districts and states, the average speed during peak hours is less than 10 kilometres per hour (kmph). Experts have been urging the strengthening of mass transit modes such as buses, the Metro, and suburban rail.

Bengaluru Metro, which spans 73 km, achieved a record daily ridership of 917,365 on August 14. This, despite overcrowded coaches due to a shortage of trains and poor last-mile connectivity, including inadequate feeder buses and a lack of shared auto-rickshaws. BMTC records show that daily ridership increased from 35 lakh in 2018-2019 to 38.4 lakh in 2023-2024 due to free bus travel for women under the Shakti scheme and the resumption of work from office. This indicates that there is demand for efficient public transport.

Rajkumar Dugar of Citizens for Citizens, an NGO (non-governmental organisation) said, "Tunnel roads contradict the government’s goal to boost public transport from 30 to 70 per cent. Tunnel roads and skydecks shouldn't be Bengaluru’s priority. They require land for ramps and lead to tree cutting. We should focus on more sustainable options."

Dugar also urged the government to complete stalled projects like the Ejapura flyover and Hebbal ramp before turning its focus on skydecks. "Instead of extending suburban rail to satellite towns, they are planning to expand the Metro, which is designed for core city areas, to the outskirts."

Shivakumar often claims that 'by birth, I am an agriculturist. By profession, I am a businessman. By choice, I am an educationist. By passion, I am a politician.' However, his critics argue that his actions are more aligned with those of a businessman, citing examples like the expansion of the Metro to the outskirts and the reclassification of Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, which potentially increases real estate value.

Bengaluru South's member of Parliament (MP), Tejasvi Surya, urged Shivakumar to keep party politics aside and help improve the civic amenities of the urban agglomeration. "The traffic scene in Bengaluru is getting more distressing with every passing day. Even Sundays, which used to be relatively easier, are becoming as nightmarish as weekdays," said Surya. "Successive governments in the state, across parties, have failed to provide our wonderful city with the vision and leadership it deserves. The city's roads, including small lanes in residential areas, are far beyond their carrying capacity, and there is no space to build more roads. Besides, more roads mean more private vehicles."

Shivakumar had also convened a meeting with Bengaluru’s elected representatives, including BJP MLAs, at Vidhana Soudha. Following the meeting, he informed reporters that all of Bengaluru's elected representatives, including Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, had agreed on the NICE Road location for the Skydeck. He also discussed tunnel roads, elevated corridors, and double-decker roads, gaining their confidence.

Also, read: Bengaluru to get 250-metre Skydeck; DK Shivakumar finalises location

In January 2023, the state government notified the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) Act after receiving the governor's assent. However, the BMLTA is yet to be established. Modelled after unified transport bodies in cities like New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai, the BMLTA was envisioned as an umbrella organisation responsible for coordinating various agencies and formulating a comprehensive mobility plan.

Also, read: Six months on, London-like transport authority to ease Bengaluru’s traffic chaos remains on paper

Satya Arikutharam, an independent consultant, said: "Projects like tunnel roads are neither mentioned in the Comprehensive Mobility Plan nor approved by the BMLTA. The government should establish the BMLTA without further delays."

It is also unclear how the government, which is implementing five poll guarantees worth Rs 55,000 crore a year, plans to fund these projects.

Last month, Shivakumar met PM Narendra Modi and sought funds for two urban tunnels and two elevated corridors to decongest Bengaluru would cost Rs 36,950 crore. He also sought approval for the Rs 27,000 crore Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), including Rs 21,000 crore for land acquisition and Rs 6,000 crore for civil construction costs. The 73 km eight-lane PRR is being implemented by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on a private-public partnership (PPP) basis.

On July 17, Shivakumar drove from Ragigudda to Central Silk Board to launch  Bengaluru's first double-decker flyover (3.3km). However, regular commuters said that the congestion that used to pile up at the Silk Board junction has now shifted to HSR Layout, where one of the ramps exits.

Also, read: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar takes test drive on Bengaluru's 1st double-decker flyover