The Karnataka High Court on Saturday directed the State government to clarify by Tuesday whether it plans to cut trees inside Lalbagh Botanical Garden, one of Bengaluru’s most cherished green spaces, for the construction of the Bangalore Twin Tunnel Road project. The direction came during the hearing of two public interest litigations (PILs) that questioned the legality and environmental viability of the massive underground road plan.
“The court has taken this issue seriously,” remarked an advocate present during the proceedings, adding that the bench appeared keen to ensure environmental safeguards aren’t sidelined in the name of development.
Background
The ₹19,000-crore twin tunnel project, proposed between Hebbal and Silk Board, has been pitched as a game-changer for Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion. However, concerns have been brewing among citizens and activists about the potential ecological cost.
Petitioners Dr. Adikesavalu Ravindra and Prakash Belawadi, represented by a team led by Advocate Tejasvi Surya, argued that the project has already encroached upon about 6.5 acres inside Lalbagh, restricting public entry and threatening the city’s natural heritage. “Trees in Bengaluru are under threat,” Surya submitted, emphasizing that no environmental impact assessment (EIA) had been conducted despite the magnitude of the project.
The petitions sought to quash the tender notification dated July 14, 2025, and all subsequent steps including bid submissions, feasibility studies, and revised project reports. They also challenged a letter dated November 26, 2024, from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority that claimed the project didn’t need prior environmental clearance a stance the petitioners called “legally untenable.”
Court’s Observations
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha appeared particularly focused on whether trees within Lalbagh were marked for felling. The bench asked the State’s advocate, Niloufer Akbar, to verify the facts and “come back with clear instructions.”
“Their basic contention,” the Chief Justice noted, “is that there has to be an Environmental Impact Assessment. Our examination would be confined to whether the provisions of law are followed or not.”
The exchange grew pointed when the petitioners’ counsel mentioned that parts of Lalbagh had been cordoned off and that public access was restricted. The bench then directed the State to respond specifically on whether any proposal exists to cut or disturb trees inside the heritage garden.
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Decision
The bench granted the State time till October 28 to file its clarification and instructed that the matter be listed specifically for this limited issue. Notices were also issued to the respondents in the related petitions.
With that, the hearing concluded for the day-leaving the government just a few days to explain its position. For now, the fate of Lalbagh’s centuries-old trees hangs in the balance, pending what could be a crucial clarification from the State on Tuesday.
Case: Prakash Belawadi & Dr. Adikesavalu Ravindra vs State of Karnataka & Others
Court: Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru
Bench: Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha
Case Numbers: W.P. No. 31626/2025 c/w W.P. No. 28664/2025
Date of Hearing: October 25, 2025 (Saturday)
