Bengaluru, Oct 28 (NationPress) BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP, Tejasvi Surya, convened with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees the Bengaluru Development portfolio, at his residence on Tuesday. Their discussions revolved around the Tunnel Road Project and the pressing issue of traffic congestion in the city.

This meeting has sparked interest as Dy CM Shivakumar previously referred to Surya as an “empty vessel” and criticized him for being active on social media without making tangible contributions.

Additionally, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah remarked that Surya “does not represent the sun (Surya), but symbolizes Amavasya (new moon).”

As per information from the Deputy Chief Minister's office, “Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence on Tuesday to deliberate on strategies aimed at alleviating Bengaluru’s traffic congestion.”

During the meeting, Surya's office reported that two presentations were delivered to the Dy CM—one focusing on 'Decongesting Bengaluru' and another titled 'Why Tunnel Road is Not the Solution.'

The 'Decongesting Bengaluru' presentation underscored the government's current strategy, emphasizing, “As cities globally transition to a people-first mobility model, Bengaluru remains ensnared in a car-first approach.”

Key concerns highlighted included an over-dependence on road expansion (which leads to induced demand), insufficient first and last-mile connectivity, car-centric infrastructure, fragmented planning across agencies, inadequate administrative support for critical institutions, and project execution delays.

Surya also compared the efficiency of tunnel roads with the Metro system, stating, “The Metro accommodates over 40 times more passengers for the same investment. Tunnel roads contribute to increased Vehicular Kilometres Travelled (VKT), resulting in more vehicles and significantly higher emissions. The Metro efficiently transports people as a mass public transport system, whereas tunnel roads prioritize vehicle movement and car users,” he explained.

He further emphasized that VKT diminishes with Metro systems but escalates with tunnel roads. “The Metro is cleaner, quieter, and reduces emissions, while the tunnel initiative is both polluting and energy-intensive,” he noted.

Tejasvi Surya proposed several strategies to tackle Bengaluru’s mobility challenges, which included enhancing the execution efficiency of existing solutions; adopting a 'Move People, Not Vehicles' policy; prioritizing public transport; fostering integration over silos; and endorsing the principle that “the pedestrian is king, not motor vehicles.”