BJP leaders launch ‘Save Sankey’ campaign against Tunnel Road project

BENGALURU:  BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan, launched the ‘Save Sankey’ signature campaign to protect the Sankey lake from the Tunnel Road project.

The BJP leaders initiated the campaign by signing their names on a white background. The campaign was attended by a large group of people. The gathering had posters and placards with “Save Sankey Lake” written on them.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, LoP R Ashoka, and other BJP leaders on November 2 led a protest against the Tunnel Road corridor and demanded that the project be scrapped.

Calling the project unscientific and incapable of solving Bengaluru’s congestion, Surya pointed out that the DPR states the project would create 22 additional choke points at the entry and exit ramps.

ಸ್ಯಾಂಕಿ ಕೆರೆ ಉಳಿಸಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿ !

ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಸುಂದರ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ನಾಶ ಮಾಡಿ, ಕೆರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹಾಳು ಮಾಡಿ, ಅವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ಮೇಲ್ಸೇತುವೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಸ್ಯಾಂಕಿ ಕೆರೆಯ ನಾಶಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಿರುವ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂದು ಕೆರೆಯ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆಗಾಗಿ ಸಹಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಅಭಿಯಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಚಾಲನೆ ನೀಡಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ… pic.twitter.com/h13Vjvvg03

— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) November 15, 2025

He also stated that the project was being pushed ahead without a public consultation and also flagged the absence of an environmental impact assessment and mandatory geological studies for the proposal.

Posting about the issue on X, Surya said, “The Tunnel Road project is not the solution to Bengaluru’s traffic woes. Tunnel roads do not decongest cities – they merely shift traffic from one junction to another without addressing the root cause, which is the overdependence on private transport and the lack of robust public mobility options.”

#WATCH | Bengaluru: BJP leaders launch ‘Save Sankey’ signature campaign to protect the Sankey tank from the Tunnel Road project. LoP Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and BJP leader C.N. Ashwath Narayan also participate. pic.twitter.com/blxn1NwBgl

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2025

During the occasion, the BJP Karnataka unit also launched a signature campaign at Lalbagh, urging citizens to come forward and participate in the movement aimed at saving Lalbagh from land acquisition and commercial development.

The tunnel is not just 18 kilometers long. The DPR shows ramps extend the corridor to nearly 20 kilometers. These 22 choke points will create multiple congestion hotspots and worsen the city’s traffic conditions further.

5/n pic.twitter.com/xXgPIaf4vp

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 28, 2025

Surya has been vocal against the tunnel project and has consistently raised concerns since the feasibility study and DPR. He has been highlighting that the project is only for car owners and said it wouldn’t be viable for every car user in the city to pay a toll of Rs 330 per trip per direction for using the Tunnel Road.

Surya suggested, “Instead of spending thousands of crores on this vanity project, the State Government must invest in sustainable, long-term transport solutions – strengthening the Metro, suburban rail, and BMTC networks to ensure accessible and efficient public mobility for all. Bengaluru needs green, forward-looking infrastructure, not reckless projects that destroy its heritage and environment.” (ANI)