Karnataka Governor urges land recovery from NICE project for Bidadi township

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to the state’s Chief Secretary seeking an Action Taken Report regarding the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC/NICE) project and the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) at Bidadi.

The Governor raised concerns that while approximately 376 acres of government land were used for the BMIC project, roughly 6,757 acres remain unutilised and may be held by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) or other private entities without lawful authority.

To mitigate the impact of the GBIT-Bidadi project, which currently involves the acquisition of 7,431 acres across nine villages, the Governor suggested utilizing the unutilised NICE land instead. This approach aims to reduce the compulsory acquisition of private agricultural land and protect local livelihoods. The proposed acquisition area currently supports over 500,000 fruit-bearing trees, 8,400 livestock, and significant mulberry cultivation for silk farmers.