Massive Rail Project Splits France and Italy, Sparking Protest

The Lyon-Turin rail project aims to build a 163.7 km tunnel through the French Alps to Italy, but has faced rising costs and environmental criticism.
The project has caused political tensions between environmentalists and conservatives in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
While supporters argue the new line will reduce road traffic, opponents counter it will damage the local ecology.
The estimated cost of the rail line has increased from €12 billion in 2002 to €30 billion today, with only 32 km of the tunnel dug so far.
Protests against the construction briefly turned violent as French police used tear gas on demonstrators defying a ban on gathering.