Bengaluru:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said a 190-km tunnel has been proposed to ease traffic congestion in the city and the state government will be inviting public tenders for it within 45 days. 

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha here, he said “A 190-km long tunnel road has been proposed to combat traffic congestion in Bengaluru and eight companies have qualified for it. These companies will submit a feasibility report and we are preparing to call for public tenders within 45 days.” 

These companies will study and report on how the tunnel road should be, whether it should be four or six lanes, from where it should begin and end, and a decision also needs to be taken on whether it should be expanded across the city, he said.

The deputy chief minister, who holds the Bengaluru City Development portfolio, said that since the project is of a very large scale and requires a huge amount of funding, it has to be done in several stages.

“We have proposed 190 km for now. Bellary Road, Old Madras Road, Esteem Mall Junction to Mekhri Circle, Miller Road, Chalukya Circle, Trinity Circle, Sarjapur Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road to Krishna Rao Park, Mysore Road to Sirsi Circle, Magadi Road, Tumakuru Road to Yeshwantpur Junction, Outer Ring Road, Goraguntepalya, KR Puram, Silk Board areas have been identified.

“We have selected these areas on priority basis. The companies are going to study where and how this tunnel road can be made,” he said.

He said Bengaluru needs at least a four-lane tunnel road.

Mr Shivakumar also said that, with the monsoon season ending, chief engineers have been given the responsibility to exert pressure on contractors to quickly complete the most important priority works, including drainage for rainwater flow.

Citing the huge traffic congestion on the Outer Ring Road in Bengaluru last week, Mr Shivakumar said he has discussed the issue with the officials concerned and the traffic police.

He will visit Outer Ring road on October 7.

He also said that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike engineers should work with the help of traffic police to address the issue of potholes. At the places indicated by the traffic police, BBMP should quickly fill potholes, so that they cause no accidents.

The public can also inform the BBMP Commissioner about the potholes, he said, adding, “When it rains, it is normal to get potholes. Such roadblocks will be repaired immediately in important areas of the city,” he added.

When asked whether the state would seek the Centre’s help in easing Bengaluru’s road congestion, he said, “Of course we will seek help from the Centre. Once these proposals are submitted, we will submit the proposal to the Centre.

“I have already met and discussed with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Vehicles arrive in Bengaluru through the National Highway and cause traffic congestion… I have discussed this matter with him. He also gave me advice and responded positively,” the deputy chief minister said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

A brief road rage incident involving a scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation and the driver of a two-wheeler was captured on camera in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The scientist, Aashish Lamba claimed he was abused and that his car was attacked by the driver of the two-wheeler who was “driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly…”

“Yesterday (while) going to ISRO office, near (newly constructed HAL underpass, a person on (a) Scooty (KA03KM8826) without helmet was driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly… we had to brake (suddenly),” Mr Lamba said on X (formerly Twitter).

He also shared videos of the confrontation; a nine-second clip – it seems to be from a dashboard camera – shows a young man shouting in Kannada and making threatening gestures before he kicks the car and drives away.

“He came to our car started fighting. He kick my car two times and flew. Kindly please do the needful,” Mr Lamba said, tagging Bengaluru police and the Karnataka capital’s Police Commissioner.

@blrcitytraffic@CPBlr@BlrCityPolice Yesterday during going to ISRO office,Near to newly constructed HAL underpass, a person on scooty (KA03KM8826) without helmet was driving recklessly and coming in front of our car suddenly and so We had to apply sudden brake. pic.twitter.com/xwDyEy2peA

— Aashish Lamba (@lambashish) August 30, 2023

Bengaluru Police responded, writing, “Noted, we (have) informed (the) concerned police officers.”

There have been a host of angry responses to Mr Lamba’s video, with many calling for a public arrest of the man seen kicking the ISRO scientist’s car.

Bengaluru Scientist “Chased With Sword”

This incident comes a day after reports another scientist claimed he was attacked by a bike-borne gang that shattered the windows of his car and threatened him with swords.

READ | “Chased With Sword”: Bengaluru Scientist Shares Photo Of Attack On Car, Police Take Action

Authorities have confirmed that an ongoing investigation is in progress and have conducted on-site examinations in an effort to locate the suspects.

ISRO In The News

ISRO scientists have made headlines for various reasons – some not so good – since Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander made its historic soft landing on the moon.

READ |Gujarat Man Poses As Scientist Who Designed Chandrayaan-3 Lander, Arrested

Among the not-so-good headiness was news from Gujarat, where a man was arrested after he gave interviews to local media outlets claiming he was the ISRO scientist who designed the lander.

Pragyan Rover Update

Meanwhile, ISRO posted on X today to say the rover had been rotated 360 degrees on the Moon n search of a route that avoids craters and rocks on the lunar surface.

READ |ISRO’s Latest Video On Rover Roaming On Moon Has A “Chandamama” Reference

The rover and Vikram, the lander that carried Pragyan to the Moon, are racing to finish experiments before a lunar night (which lasts 14 Earth days) sets next week.