Bengaluru’s ongoing debate over the proposed tunnel road project took a curious turn on Tuesday when Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar linked car ownership to marriage prospects while defending the controversial plan.
During a meeting with Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, who strongly opposed the tunnel project, Shivakumar remarked, “People even hesitate to marry a boy who doesn’t own a car.”
Surya had argued that the costly “car-only” tunnel proposal was impractical and environmentally unsound, urging the government to instead prioritize expanding the Metro, suburban rail, and last-mile shuttle networks. He cited data showing that the tunnel would move barely 1,800 cars per hour in one direction, whereas a Metro line could transport nearly 69,000 passengers with similar investment.
Responding to Surya’s criticism, Shivakumar said transport choices also reflect social behavior. “Can I stop you from bringing your vehicle? It’s about social responsibility. People prefer to travel in their own cars with families. If needed, MPs can appeal to their voters to use public transport and see how many actually do,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister further urged Bengaluru’s MPs to seek more financial support from the Centre. Karnataka, he noted, receives only 10–12% of the Metro project cost from the Union government. “Instead of opposing state projects, all MPs should collectively meet the Prime Minister to secure additional funds,” Shivakumar added.
The remarks have reignited discussions around the sustainability of private vehicles versus mass transit in India’s tech capital, where traffic congestion continues to be one of the city’s most pressing urban challenges.
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
