Hebbal Short tunnel project threatens green corridor supporting 199 bird species: Study

Bengaluru A decade-long record shows that 199 bird species have been documented in the vicinity of the proposed Hebbal Short Tunnel alignment, according to a rapid environmental impact assessment conducted by ecologists and researchers. The report primarily stresses on the vulnerable greater spotted eagle and the near-threatened spot-billed pelican reported in the region. The report was prepared by Harini Nagendra, Seema Mundoli, Prachi Gupta, and Vivek G.

of Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. The researchers used secondary data from eBird and iNaturalist to document bird sightings between 2016 and 2026. The report notes that nearly 50 species of waterbirds have been recorded around Hebbal Lake.

These include kingfishers, plovers, herons, storks, teals, cormorants, and moorhens. The area is also home to the Indian peafowl, the national bird, and the Indian roller, Karnataka’s state bird. The report has come amid concerns over the environmental impact of the proposed 2.28-km underground twin-tube tunnel road.