<p>Bengaluru: The BJP on Monday dubbed the proposed tunnel road "a massive corruption scandal in the making", slamming the Congress government for pushing a project that would be a "disaster" for Bengaluru. </p>.<p>BJP leaders said the project is designed to benefit only the ultra-rich, with a two-way trip costing Rs 660, making it unaffordable for most residents.</p>.<p>Bangalore South MP LS Tejasvi Surya questioned the rationale behind making the entire city subsidise a Rs 7,100-crore viability gap funding project benefiting only car owners.</p>.<p>"The proposed toll is so high and steep that only (Deputy Chief Minister) DK Shivakumar’s neighbours in Sadashivanagar and his friends in Koramangala 4th Block can afford to pay,” he said, adding that the high cost highlights the economic unviability of the project.</p>.<p>The BJP also raised doubts over the credibility of the feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR).</p>.<p>"These reports were prepared by consultants who are either debarred, blacklisted in other states, or facing corruption charges. The DPR is nothing but a cut-and-paste job from a BMRCL report,” Surya alleged.</p>.BJP unlikely to get new party chief before Parliament monsoon session .<p>"No new traffic or willingness-to-pay surveys were conducted. Outdated traffic study timestamps were found in these reports. This shows the DPR was prepared solely to justify this scandal."</p>.<p>He also said the government failed to secure the mandatory approval from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA).</p>.<p>Surya demanded that the government focus on improving public transport and clearing stalled infrastructure works. "There are about 20 projects stuck for five years. Despite this, the government wants to build another 100 km of elevated roads. Going by the speed at which the Ejipura flyover work is going on, it will take 800 years to complete the elevated flyovers,” he said. “China and the US are building cities in two years, while we are unable to build a 2-km flyover.”</p>.<p>He said the tunnel road can carry only 1,600 cars per hour per direction, while the metro can transport 25,000 passengers for a much lower investment.</p>.<p>Citing IISc studies, the BJP said the Baiyyappanahalli-Whitefield metro line had cut traffic congestion by 17%.</p>.<p>"Over 72% of the people heading to the Kempegowda airport use cars because of poor public transport. There has been a 45% rise in private vehicles on the Outer Ring Road. Yet, there is a massive delay in expanding the metro network, suburban railway lines and the bus fleet,” Surya said. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The BJP on Monday dubbed the proposed tunnel road "a massive corruption scandal in the making", slamming the Congress government for pushing a project that would be a "disaster" for Bengaluru. </p>.<p>BJP leaders said the project is designed to benefit only the ultra-rich, with a two-way trip costing Rs 660, making it unaffordable for most residents.</p>.<p>Bangalore South MP LS Tejasvi Surya questioned the rationale behind making the entire city subsidise a Rs 7,100-crore viability gap funding project benefiting only car owners.</p>.<p>"The proposed toll is so high and steep that only (Deputy Chief Minister) DK Shivakumar’s neighbours in Sadashivanagar and his friends in Koramangala 4th Block can afford to pay,” he said, adding that the high cost highlights the economic unviability of the project.</p>.<p>The BJP also raised doubts over the credibility of the feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR).</p>.<p>"These reports were prepared by consultants who are either debarred, blacklisted in other states, or facing corruption charges. The DPR is nothing but a cut-and-paste job from a BMRCL report,” Surya alleged.</p>.BJP unlikely to get new party chief before Parliament monsoon session .<p>"No new traffic or willingness-to-pay surveys were conducted. Outdated traffic study timestamps were found in these reports. This shows the DPR was prepared solely to justify this scandal."</p>.<p>He also said the government failed to secure the mandatory approval from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA).</p>.<p>Surya demanded that the government focus on improving public transport and clearing stalled infrastructure works. "There are about 20 projects stuck for five years. Despite this, the government wants to build another 100 km of elevated roads. Going by the speed at which the Ejipura flyover work is going on, it will take 800 years to complete the elevated flyovers,” he said. “China and the US are building cities in two years, while we are unable to build a 2-km flyover.”</p>.<p>He said the tunnel road can carry only 1,600 cars per hour per direction, while the metro can transport 25,000 passengers for a much lower investment.</p>.<p>Citing IISc studies, the BJP said the Baiyyappanahalli-Whitefield metro line had cut traffic congestion by 17%.</p>.<p>"Over 72% of the people heading to the Kempegowda airport use cars because of poor public transport. There has been a 45% rise in private vehicles on the Outer Ring Road. Yet, there is a massive delay in expanding the metro network, suburban railway lines and the bus fleet,” Surya said. </p>
