Bengaluru, Oct. 17 -- The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is facing mounting criticism over its decision to use parts of the Lalbagh Botanical Garden for the ambitious Bengaluru Tunnel Road project. The plan has triggered widespread anger from environmentalists, opposition leaders, and civic groups who say the project could permanently damage one of the city's most cherished green spaces.

Initially, the officials described the use of Lalbagh as "temporary", saying the area would be used only to store construction materials. Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar maintained that the land would be restored once the work was completed. However, new disclosures that the proposed 16.5-kilometer tunnel would run beneath the park have sparked...