Bengaluru, 9 August

The proposed Bidadi Township project will be a futuristic hub that has advanced road networks, metro connectivity, a modern sports arena, sprawling parks, and well-designed housing options, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said in a video message on X on Sunday. 

His statement comes a day after he constituted a panel to review the township project. 

Claiming that the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project will better the lives of farmers, he added that the Congress government has hiked the land compensation from Rs 25 lakh per acre that was fixed by previous administrations to Rs 3 crore per acre. 

“This land acquisition process is entirely voluntary, with no coercion imposed on anyone unwilling to contribute land to the project,” he said. “Farmers who prefer land over money will be allotted 50 per cent of the developed land.”

This massive project, undertaken under the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority, will transform the landscape of Bengaluru's South District," he said.

Meanwhile speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said his government would bring out the facts about the project. He was reacting to the JD(S)-BJP padayatra. He said the Congress had no objection to the protests. 

"Let them come and discuss it in the Assembly.... We will reply to them in the Assembly. Let them file a complaint wherever they want. The law will respond appropriately at the right time."

Shivakumar has repeatedly said that the GBIT project was announced by the HD Kumaraswamy-led BJP-JD(S) coalition government in 2006 and not his or the Congress’ idea.