Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 20: Within days after the world's longest 'Atal Tunnel' was inaugurated at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh, the proposal to have a tunnel through the Western Ghats to reach Bengaluru has gained some momentum.

The tunnel, if it comes up, will be an alternative to the current national highway 75. The tunnel is proposed to be 23.4 km long from Addahole to Maranahalli in Hassan district. The estimated project cost is Rs 12,000 crore. National Highways Authority of India has submitted the detailed project report to the central government.

Environmentalists, however, question the need to have such a tunnel. Just because a tunnel was dug in Himachal Pradesh does not mean that the Western Ghats too have the carrying capacity, they argue. They say that precious nature of Western Ghats has been lost for Bengaluru-Mangaluru railway line, hydel power project at Gundia, for B C Road highway, Yettinahole project etc. They point out that because of this onslaught, we have been witnessing the ill effects during the rainy seasons in the recent past. They say that if a tunnel is rigged here, it will deliver another major blow to Western Ghats and Kempuhole rivulet, which is the source of River Netravati, may go dry and the project may prove to be disastrous for Dakshina Kannada district.

Need for tunnel

Even though the distance between Bengaluru and Chennai and Bengaluru and Mangaluru are the same, businessmen depend on Chennai for exporting their products as heavy vehicles feel it tough to negotiate steep road bends on the ghat road. If this tunnel is created comprising seven tunnels of 12.41 metres each in addition to underpasses, over bridges, roads and straight roads, vehicles can move faster and driving is easier.

Environmentalist Dinesh Holla, says that seven dams are being built as part of Yettinahole project and wants to know what happens if something happens at the tunnel. He pointed out that even though landslides have been occurring in the Western Ghats during the rainy seasons, the geological department study report has not yet been obtained by the government. He said that it is advisable to obtain all reports covering individual aspects and opinions of the people and environmentalists before proceeding further in the matter.