Hebbal short tunnel: 1,072 trees to be transplanted, 56 to be felled, says BDA Chairman

Among the 1,128 trees marked along the alignment of the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project in north Bengaluru, only 56 are proposed to be felled, while the remaining 1,072 are proposed to be transplanted, said N.A. Haris, Chairman of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). However, the proposal is subject to the approval of the Tree Committee.

Stressing that any infrastructure project would cause disruptions to traffic movement and involve tree felling, Mr. Haris said that the BDA was taking all measures to minimise the inconvenience and tree loss. He was speaking at ‘#THTalksBengaluru’, The Hindu’s reader connect programme, on Thursday.

“We have advanced technology for transplanting trees, which will be used to protect the green cover. In addition, we can plant more trees in the same place, above the tunnel, once its construction is complete,” he said.

Recently, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) invited objections from citizens, stating that the BDA had sought permission to fell 1,128 trees belonging to over 80 species. This drew substantial public backlash. Online petitions were also launched against the project, with one of them receiving 20,000 signatures.

He also dismissed claims that the tunnel would affect the underground water flow and the Hebbal Lake, stating that the tunnel’s alignment is away from the lake and does not pass through the water body.

Besides, he said a fresh plan to install filters along the tunnel had been drawn up to ensure that the flow of water was not disrupted. “Scientifically, water will find its way and keep moving; no one can stop water. The water will automatically flow below the tunnel,” he said.

Responding to the Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) report that the short tunnel could create new choke points and trigger underground queues, Mr. Haris said there were two IISc studies and that a flyover would also be built as an extension to ease congestion.

“The flyover will connect to another elevated corridor at Mehkri Circle, which will be built by the Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE). With this plan, people can take a left turn and travel towards east Bengaluru, while taking a right turn will allow them to move towards Yeshwanthpur,” Mr. Haris said.

The Shanti Nagar MLA said that if the Hebbal Steel Flyover had been implemented, the tunnel would not have been necessary. However, he said the BDA was responsible for developing the city and that Bengaluru needed to be made future-ready.

“We can’t acquire land, widen roads, or demolish buildings. So, a tunnel is the option. Even the metro is going underground, and elsewhere, there is a tunnel underwater as well,” he stressed.

BDA to explore ways to save trees

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Commissioner P. Manivannan on Friday said that the authority would conduct a joint inspection of the Hebbal Short Tunnel Project site to identify trees that could be saved from felling.

Mr. Manivannan said the 56 trees marked for felling would be inspected along with members of NGOs who had raised concerns over the cutting of trees. They are likely to suggest ways to retain some of the trees.

“If there is a possibility of saving some of the trees by changing the alignment of the tunnel, we are ready for that also, but the NGO has to suggest it to us,” he said. Mr. Manivannan said the authority was being transparent about the project and was ready to address concerns over it.