The multi-crore ‘car only’ tunnel project has led to a fresh row with BJP MP Tejasvi Suryaand Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on each side of the social media spat. The two recently met, where Tejasvi proposed a few things, only to get the advice of getting more funds from Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, rather than “free suggestions”. Now, in a fresh post, he has targeted Shivakumar for the latter’s remark justifying the tunnel project that men without a car are not being considered for marriage.
Sharing a post on X, Tejasvi said, “For all these days, I was under the wrong impression that the tunnel project was aimed at solving Bengaluru traffic problem. Now, DCM has clarified that it is intended to solve a social problem – of people not wanting to marry a man without a car.”
[img=1px,1px]https://data.indianexpress.com/election2019/track_1x1.jpg[/img] Tejasvi Surya’s X post on DK Shivakumar’s comment“How stupid I was!” he added.
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Tejasvi suggests alternatives to tunnel
Tejasvi met the Deputy CM on Tuesday to discuss the alternatives of the tunnel project, for the better of Bengaluru. The city has been in the headlines for the past couple of weeks due to his messy infrastructure, with the industry leaders calling out the callousness of the government.
The Bangalore South MP reportedly suggested that the proposed tunnel would just cater to 1,800 cars per hour in one direction, whereas if a Metro line is constructed, it could move nearly 69,000 passengers instead.
“We should focus on moving more people, not more cars,” he reportedly said. His proposal included a citywide transport plan comprising a 300km Metro network with three-minute train frequency, a 314km suburban rail system, and modern tram services, among others.
Shivakumar’s remarks stir row
Shivakumar remained tough on Tejasvi’s suggestions. “Surya has made some suggestions. He said the tunnel road is mainly for cars and wants the Metro network to be expanded. We have no objection to that. But I told him to get more funds from the central govt for the Metro. Right now, we receive only 10-12% of the total project cost. I urge all Bengaluru MPs to meet the PM — I’ll join them too,” he said.
Later, talking to the media, he said that people bring their cars and he cannot ask them not to do that. “Can I stop you from bringing your vehicle? It’s a matter of social responsibility. People prefer to travel in their own vehicles with their families. Can we prevent them from using their cars?” he said.
Bengaluru | On his meeting with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar says, "He gave a few suggestions. He said instead of a tunnel road, a Metro line should be built. We are already working on Metro construction, but we need funds too, right? He also… pic.twitter.com/DZilsgR7pp
— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2025 “If needed, MPs can appeal to their constituents to leave their cars at home and use public transport. Let us see how many actually follow that. Today, people even hesitate to marry a boy who doesn’t own a car,” the Bengaluru development minister added.
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Tejasvi’s Tokyo example
Meanwhile, in another post on X, Tejasvi Surya highlighted how Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, moves smoothly without any car traffic.
Tokyo moves most of its population on rail based public transportation systems. Here, we are obsessed with car centric infrastructure.
Unless we change this approach, we will be stuck in jams. https://t.co/3Z5qOv8Bs3
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 29, 2025 “Tokyo moves most of its population on rail based public transportation systems. Here, we are obsessed with car centric infrastructure. Unless we change this approach, we will be stuck in jams,” he said. |
