The Karnataka High Court has ruled that any contracts signed for the Bengaluru tunnel road project will be subject to the outcome of ongoing PILs challenging the project's legality.

Key Takeaways

  • The Karnataka High Court ruled that all third-party contracts for the tunnel road project are subject to the final outcome of pending PILs.
  • A Division Bench directed the government to inform contractors in writing about this legal contingency.
  • Three PILs are currently challenging the procedural legality of the project's approvals.
  • The legality of the newly introduced Rule 24 of the BMLTA Rules, 2025, is also under judicial review.

The ambitious Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project has encountered a significant legal roadblock. The High Court of Karnataka issued a crucial interim order on Thursday, stating that any contracts entered into by the State government or its agencies with third parties regarding the proposed tunnel road will be strictly subject to the final verdict of three ongoing Public Interest Litigations (PILs).

Court Mandates Transparency for Contractors

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha, passed the order following apprehensions raised by petitioners' counsel regarding the imminent issuance of work orders. To ensure legal clarity, the Court directed the government to formally notify all contractors in writing that their agreements are contingent upon the court's final decision regarding the project's legality.

Procedural Scrutiny vs. Urban Necessity

The legal challenge, filed by Adikesavalu Ravindra, Prakash Belawadi, and the Citizens Action Forum, Bengaluru, focuses on the procedural integrity of the project's approvals. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Bakhru noted that while Bengaluru faces a massive traffic crisis, the court's role is not to suggest solutions—whether through tunnels or otherwise—but to examine whether the legal and procedural mandates for approving such a massive undertaking were strictly followed.

Controversy Surrounding BMLTA Rules

Adding to the legal complexity, the Bench has issued notices to the government regarding another PIL challenging Rule 24 of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) Rules, 2025. The petitioner, Aravind S., contends that this rule seeks to retroactively validate massive urban mobility decisions and projects exceeding ₹1 lakh crore—including the tunnel road—without the independent statutory assessments required under the BMLTA Act, 2022.