The proposed underground road project, estimated to cost approximately ₹19,000 crore, aims to connect Hebbal with Silk Board in Bengaluru. The state government has initiated the tendering process.
Published Oct 25, 2025 | 8:09 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 25, 2025 | 8:09 PM
Lalbagh is a veritable treasure house of plants and trees, including a few that are more than a century old. (Deeksha Devadiga/South First)
Synopsis: The court asked government advocate Niloufer Akbar to verify if there is any proposal to cut trees. The government advocate replied that she would make a submission on Tuesday. She also requested that the matter be posted for this limited issue on 28 October.
The High Court of Karnataka on Saturday, 25 October, heard PILs on the possibility of trees being felled inside Lalbagh for the contentious twin-tunnel road project.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha, hearing two public interest litigations, was told by the counsel for the petitioners that “trees in Bengaluru are under threat.” The PILs were filed by Dr Adikesavalu Ravindra and Prakash Belawadi.
Advocate Tejasvi Surya (MP) appeared for Prakash Belawadi. He argued that close to 6.5 acres in Lalbagh have been demarcated, and ingress and egress of the public is stopped. A rock formation is also there.
Responding, the high court said it will examine the ban on public, and find out if there is any proposal to cut trees.
The court asked government advocate Niloufer Akbar to verify if there is any proposal to cut trees. The government advocate replied that she would make a submission on Tuesday. She also requested that the matter be posted for this limited issue on 28 October.
The court allowed the same and issued notice to the respondents in the petition filed by Balewadi.
The court said, “Their basic contention is that there has to be an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), and if that is done? Our examination would be confined to if the provisions of law are followed or not.”
The proposed underground road project, estimated to cost approximately ₹19,000 crore, aims to connect Hebbal with Silk Board in Bengaluru. The state government has initiated the tendering process.
Lalbagh is a veritable treasure house of plants and trees, including a few that are more than a century old.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
