Bengaluru, 29 Sept

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged large-scale irregularities worth over Rs 3 lakh crore in the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), accusing the Karnataka government of failing to protect farmers whose land was acquired for the project.

NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) is the private consortium and primary developer contracted to design, build, and operate the BMICP.

Addressing a press conference, Kumaraswamy alleged that the project alignment was changed without Cabinet approval on 12 February, 2004, when Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was the urban development minister in the SM Krishna government. He demanded Shivakumar’s resignation, alleging that 9,468 acres were allocated for the toll road and 10,724 acres for township development in deviation from the original plan.

He alleged that the current wealth of over Rs 1,400 crores of. Shivakumar basically comes from manipulation and fraud committed in NICE scam

He also pointed out that NICE managing director Ashok Kheny was a member of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Area Planning Authority during the period.

Kumaraswamy alleged that farmers promised 60 per cent of the developed land under a 60:40 arrangement had not received their share. He also questioned changes to the Outline Development Plan, permissions for commercial properties and proposed government-funded infrastructure on land earmarked for other purposes. He claimed properties worth Rs 1,400 crore had been acquired following these changes.

Referring to recent High Court observations and a 2016 Legislative Committee report, he urged the government to investigate the project’s financial transactions, audit its accounts and return land to farmers wherever legally possible. He also opposed toll collection, urging the public not to pay and the government to stop collecting it.

While supporting a Bengaluru-Mysuru Road connection, he questioned the need for another parallel road when the BMICP remained incomplete. He claimed 1.25 lakh acres had been identified for the project, conceived nearly 30 years ago to cover 140 km, but less than five km had been completed.

Asked about alleged links between his family and the project, Kumaraswamy called for an investigation into any illegal transactions. He said he would pursue legal action, mobilise public opinion with BJP support and release further material, including audio and video recordings. He vowed to continue the campaign until the matter was addressed.