Karnataka High Court Seeks State's Clarification On 'Threat' To Trees Inside Bengaluru's Lalbagh For Twin Tunnel Project

The Karnataka High Court on Saturday directed the State government to inform by Tuesday whether it plans to cut trees inside Lalbagh Botanical Garden for construction of the proposed Bangalore Twin Tunnel Road.

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Poonacha while hearing two public interest litigations filed by Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra and Prakash Belawadi were told by the counsel for the petitioners that “Trees in Bengaluru are under threat.”

Advocate Tejasvi Surya for petitioner Belawadi argued that in Lalbaugh, close to 6.5 acres of land has been demarcated and ingress and egress of public is stopped. A rock formation is also there.

Following which the court asked the government advocate Niloufer Akbar to verify if there is any proposal to cut trees. The government advocate replied that she would take necessary instruction and make submission on Tuesday and requested the matter be posted for this limited issue on October 28.

The court allowed the same and issued notice to the respondents in the petition filed by Balewadi saying, “Their basic contention is that there has to be an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), if that is done? Our examination would be confined to if the provisions of law are followed or not.”

An underground road approximately at the cost of Rs 19,000 crore is proposed from Hebbal to Silk Board, and is claimed as a fix for Bengaluru's traffic problem.

The plea filed by Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra and others seeks to quash tender notification dated 14/07/2025, for the Bangalore twin tunnel road project, together with all consequential steps including publication of the RFP, Pre-bid proceedings, Bid submission, Bid evaluation and Proposed issuance of letter of award.

It further seeks to quash the feasibility study (December 2024) prepared by respondent no.7 (Altinok Consulting Engineering Pvt Ltd) and the detailed project report prepared by respondent no.6 (Rodic Consultants Pvt Ltd) and the so-called revised DPR dated February 2025 , for non compliance with mandatory legal standards, internal inconsistencies and non-application of mind.

It also seeks to quash the letter dated 26/11/2024 of the State Environment Impact assessment authority, Karnataka (annexure-g), purporting to opine that prior environmental clearance is not required for the project.

It further seeks to direct the respondents from taking any further steps in execution of the bangalore twin tunnel road project without conducting an environmental impact assessment, preparing mobility planning for underground road construction, preparing a list of specific cost of acquisition, preparing a report consisting of the present utility and drainage maps showing all existing water, storm water, drainage pipes/lines and a diversion plan for the same indicating if any existing pipes/layouts are being affected, and permissions, not limited to what is stated above, and absent such compliance, the project shall not be taken forward or acted upon in any manner whatsoever.

Case Title: Prakash Balewadi AND State of Karnataka & Others

Counsel for Petitioners: Advocates LS Tejasvi Surya, Anirudh A Kulkarni, Akshay S Vasist, Vasista Ramprasad

Case No: WP 31626/2025 c/w WP 28664/2025