The proposed Hebbal tunnel road project in Bengaluru has run into strong environmental opposition after the Greater Bengaluru Authority invited objections to a plan involving the removal of 1,128 trees. The issue has quickly become a major talking point among residents and environmental groups concerned about the citys remaining green spaces.
The proposed project covers about 2.3 kilometres and is planned to connect Hebbal Junction with the University of Agricultural Sciences staff quarters through the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University campus. The project is being funded by the Bangalore Development Authority and is estimated to cost around Rs 1,130 crore. The route also forms part of the connection towards Kempegowda International Airport.
The scale of the proposed tree removal has become the central point of criticism. A vegetation survey carried out along roughly two kilometres identified more than 1,400 trees, while the official proposal currently lists 1,128 trees as being affected by the project.
The trees identified in the project area are spread across environmentally important locations, including the Hebbal Tree Park, areas around Hebbal Lake, the veterinary college campus and nearby institutional and residential areas. Environmental groups say the stretch contains mature native trees as well as flowering and fruit bearing species.
An online campaign against the project has already crossed 20,000 signatures. The petition calls for greater scrutiny of the tunnel plan and seeks independent assessments of its environmental, traffic and safety implications.
Environmentalists have raised concerns that the impact could extend beyond the number of trees being removed. They have pointed to possible effects on biodiversity, drainage, groundwater and the green corridor around Hebbal Lake and the institutional campuses.
Construction activity itself is another concern. Activists have argued that prolonged excavation could bring additional dust, noise and pollution to an already busy part of the city. They also fear that removing mature trees could alter local environmental conditions around the project corridor.
The debate has become particularly sensitive because the Hebbal area contains several established green spaces within a heavily developed part of Bengaluru. Environmental researchers have previously described the campuses, lake areas and tree covered sections around the corridor as important pockets of urban biodiversity.
Questions have also been raised about what happens to the trees if transplantation is proposed. Experts quoted in earlier reporting on the project have pointed out that moving mature trees is considerably more complicated than planting new saplings and requires careful preparation and aftercare.
The authorities have not simply proceeded without a public process. The Greater Bengaluru Authority has issued a public notice inviting citizens to submit objections and suggestions regarding the proposed tree removal. The current process has given residents and environmental groups an opportunity to raise concerns before a final decision on the tree cutting permission.
The issue has nevertheless generated criticism over the availability of information. Reports said details relating to the trees proposed for removal were not immediately accessible on the GBA website, leading some citizens to question how detailed objections could be submitted without complete information.
The tunnel is being presented as an infrastructure project intended to improve movement through the Hebbal area and provide a faster underground connection along the airport corridor. Support for the project and concerns about its environmental consequences therefore represent two different aspects of the same urban planning debate.
For residents, the question is not only about traffic movement but also about what Bengaluru may lose while creating new transport infrastructure. Mature trees provide shade and contribute to the character of established neighbourhoods, while lake and campus vegetation can support birds, insects and other urban wildlife.
The online petition has given the opposition a wider platform, with thousands of citizens signing the campaign. Environmental groups and residents are seeking more detailed examination of the projects ecological and mobility implications before irreversible changes are made.
The controversy comes at a time when Bengaluru is already witnessing wider public discussions over tunnel roads and the balance between infrastructure expansion and environmental protection. The Hebbal proposal has added another important chapter to that debate.
For now, the tree removal proposal remains under public scrutiny. The objections received by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the assessments carried out by the relevant authorities will be important in determining how the project moves forward.
The Hebbal tunnel road may have been planned as a solution to a transport problem, but the number of trees involved has ensured that its environmental impact is receiving equally close attention. For many citizens, the immediate demand is for transparency and a careful assessment of the consequences before decisions affecting the areas green cover are finalised.
