How Karnataka’s Parks and BMLTA amendments may shield Tunnel Road project | Explained
The Karnataka government recently passed two amendments to the Parks and BMLTA acts without debate, which critics argue are designed to facilitate the controversial Tunnel Road project. These changes allow for the use of protected park land for public infrastructure, drawing backlash from activists and environmentalists.
Why it matters
The legislation highlights tensions between urban infrastructure development and environmental preservation in Bengaluru.
Story so far: The Karnataka government passed two bills — the Karnataka Government Parks (Preservation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (BMLTA) — in the recently concluded Monsoon Session.
Both bills were passed without a single debate as the opposition alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) was vehemently protesting against the inclusion of scam-accused B. Nagendra in the newly inducted ministers.
The bills are now being viewed in the context of the controversial Tunnel Road project, which is one of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s pet projects. The Parks Bill, in particular, has drawn substantial backlash from the public, civic activists, and environmentalists . In addition, progressive thinkers and Kannada writers have also issued statements urging the government to repeal the amendments. Pressure is now mounting from various sections of society.
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