Bengaluru, 27 June

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said he had prepared a Rs 1.25 lakh crore plan to develop Bengaluru vertically. 

“People come here believing they can build a better life. The City continues to grow every day, and its boundaries keep expanding. We cannot stop people from coming here. Therefore, I am thinking about promoting vertical growth for the city," Shivakumar said at an event to mark the 517th birth anniversary of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, who is credited with founding Bengaluru. "We must provide opportunities for people of every religion and community to build their lives here. Just as the heart is essential to the human body, Bengaluru is vital to Karnataka."

This comes as Shivakumar is set to lay the foundation stone for the twin-tunnel road near Hebbal on Sunday. 

Pointing out that Bengaluru has a population of 1.40 crore and around 1.30 crore registered vehicles, Shivakumar said, "No matter how much Metro and public transport we introduce, each person continues to own a vehicle."

"In the coming year, we are moving ahead with plans to establish a Metro connection to the airport. Over the next two years, we are planning a 500km Metro expansion," he added.

Shivakumar also planted a sapling – part of the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s initiative to plant 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru.

Amid the push for “vertical development”, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday inaugurated a 10.7km long, 100 meters wide, signal-free and toll-free corridor named after former chief minister and political mentor SM Krishna, that aims to serve as major arterial road for Benglauru. 

The road, built with a Rs 631 crore investment, will reduce travel time between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road from 60 minutes to 20 minutes. The 10-lane modern roadway, featuring green boulevards, service roads and a dedicated cycling track, connects Kadabagere Cross to Challaghatta Metro Station.

The road, with three underpasses, 11 bridges and a 270-metre tunnel offers a faster alternative to NICE Road. Officials said it has a three-metre central median for future Metro connectivity. It connects all nine blocks of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout and 11 neighbouring villages, improving connectivity for Kambipura, Kommaghatta, Kenchanapura and nearby areas. They said the road also provides faster access for commuters from Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Ramanagara, Kunigal and Magadi.

Addressing a gathering, Shivakumar said that the road will be expanded to 123km, connecting Electronic City to Mysuru Road, and final notification will be issued soon.  

“Bengaluru cannot survive without this road, so I will take bold decisions. Landowners will be offered 35 per cent commercial land, 40 per cent residential land, and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) compensation. They can choose whichever option they prefer,” he explained," he added.

In an apparent bid to make land owners part with their property, Shivakumar said a “Wall of Gratitude” will be set up. It will include the names of people who voluntarily part with their land for “public welfare projects”. 

“Through this, the sacrifices of landowners will be remembered," he said. 

Earlier in the day, the CM paid floral tributes at the 108-foot bronze statue of Kempegowda near Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli. He said that airport authorities would submit a plan to ensure that every person who arrives sees the statue of the City’s founder. 

He said that 15 lakh saplings will be planted across the City in memory of Kempegowda, as part of the Bengaluru Development Authority’s 'Green Bengaluru' initiative. 

“By growing 15 lakh saplings in Bengaluru, we are making it a Garden City once again,” Shivakumar said. 

According to BDA, this initiative is a major effort to mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and restore Bengaluru's ecological balance. 

“It has been decided to create parks in the Forest Department lands in and around Bengaluru," Shivkumar added. 

He added that the Kempegowda Jayanthi would be held in a different constituency every year and that and comprehensive development work on Kempegowda's fort in Magadi was allocated Rs 100, and that five acres of land have been purchased near the tomb.