Concerns have been raised over plans allowing high-rise developments in environmentally sensitive zones along the proposed Tunnel Road in Bengaluru. Experts warn that large-scale construction in these green corridors—home to dense tree cover and fragile ecosystems—could intensify urban heat and strain the city’s drainage and ecological balance.

According to urban planners, the new alignment traverses critical green belts that serve as natural buffers for water recharge and biodiversity. The proposed zoning changes may open the area to extensive commercial and residential towers, significantly altering its landscape.

Environmentalists have urged the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the state government to conduct detailed environmental impact assessments before granting clearances. They have also called for stricter building height limits and compensatory afforestation measures.

The Tunnel Road project, intended to decongest traffic between Hebbal and Jayanagar, has been under scrutiny for its potential environmental implications even as infrastructure expansion continues across Bengaluru’s urban zones.