Karnataka forms committee to review Bidadi Township project

The Karnataka government has established a high-level committee, headed by retired High Court judge Justice Guhanathan Narendar, to review the proposed Bidadi Township, also known as the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Suburban Project. The committee, which includes retired officials S.V. Ranganath, S.R. Umashankar, and Prasanna Kumar, is tasked with submitting a report within 30 days evaluating the project from legal, humanitarian, and developmental perspectives.

The project, which covers approximately 7,481 acres between Bidadi and Harohalli, was originally proposed in 2006 and has recently been revived to boost industrial investment around Bengaluru. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that the development aims to feature an AI City, metro connectivity, and modern infrastructure while minimizing residential displacement.

The move follows opposition from the BJP and JD(S), who have organized protests regarding land acquisition and farmers' interests. To address these concerns, the government has pledged that land acquisition will be voluntary and has proposed significantly higher compensation, potentially exceeding Rs 3 crore per acre, or offering 50% of developed land to farmers who prefer land over cash.