Bengaluru: Citizens, activists and walkers have launched a postcard campaign urging govt to scrap the proposed Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel road project, which is expected to pass beneath Lalbagh and require over five acres of the garden’s land.The postcards, addressed to chief minister DK Shivakumar, call for no part of Lalbagh to be used for shafts, a multilevel parking facility or any other project-related structures. Campaigners have also urged govt to withdraw the recent amendment to Karnataka Parks (Preservation) Act, which allows up to 5% of park land to be diverted for infrastructure projects.Environmentalist and retired IFS officer AN Yellappa Reddy, who launched the campaign, urged students from schools and colleges, children, seniors and other citizens to write individual letters to the chief minister.BV Sridhar Rao, a regular Lalbagh walker for three decades, appealed to citizens to participate in large numbers. “People across age groups must come together to save Bengaluru’s heritage and environment by writing to the CM to drop the Hebbal-Silk Board tunnel project,” he said.Environmentalist Vijay Nishant questioned why govts had failed to recognise Lalbagh’s heritage and environmental importance. “This is a campaign aimed at saving our parks. I urge all citizens to support the campaign, raise awareness through WhatsApp and write a letter each,” he said.Another citizen, in a letter to Shivakumar, urged him not to “behave like a dictator” and warned that the project could have electoral consequences. “If you want to become CM again, you must stop such projects. If you stop this, we will not vote for you in 2028,” he said.No diversion plan yetRegarding the possibility of diverting the tunnel road to exclude Lalbagh from its route, B-Smile technical director BS Prahallad told TOI no such plan was being considered as of now. “This is a PPC contract planned under the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model. As of now, we do not have any plans to make a diversion. The decision must come from higher authorities, and we cannot speculate,” he said.Govt had estimated the cost of the 17km tunnel road project at Rs 17,698 crore. In Dec 2025, Adani Group emerged as the lowest bidder, quoting Rs 22,267 crore for the project.
