Bidadi Township moves ahead despite opposition: ₹26-crore tender floated for master plan of ₹18,133-crore project
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The Karnataka government is aggressively moving forward with its ambitious ₹18,133-crore Bidadi AI City project, with the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) floating a ₹26-crore tender for its master plan and Detailed Project Report (DPR), slated to open on June 24. This push comes despite escalating farmer protests and a unified political opposition from the BJP and JD(S), who label the initiative a 'state-engineered land grab' impacting fertile agricultural land in the Ramanagara district. The project, a flagship initiative for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and officially named the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), has ignited a fierce political battle, with opposition parties even petitioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene. Farmers have maintained a sustained agitation for over 470 days, fearing displacement, loss of livelihoods, and the felling of an estimated two lakh trees for the sprawling 7,481-acre development. The financing plan relies heavily on borrowings, with the state government backing a ₹7,500 crore guarantee and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) reportedly providing a ₹1,109 crore loan for the initial phase. With the tender opening imminent, all eyes are on the government's next moves, particularly amidst a planned 'padayatra' by farmers and opposition parties on June 21, threatening a march to Vidhana Soudha if demands are unmet. The project's fate hinges on navigating this intense political and social resistance, as a Cabinet meeting on June 20 is also expected to address the growing discontent. This standoff will define not only the future of Bengaluru's expansion but also the political landscape for Karnataka's ruling Congress party.