Bidadi Township Project Gets Karnataka Cabinet Approval, 7,481 Acres to Be Developed

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project (GBIT) in Bidadi, covering around 7,481 acres and 21.08 guntas across nine villages in Bidadi hobli of Ramanagara taluk in Bengaluru South district. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 18,133 crore.

The township will be developed by the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA), with the Finance Department approving a bank guarantee of Rs 7,500 crore to support the project. The plan is to create a 'work live play' environment and develop a second central business district to reduce pressure on core Bengaluru areas.

Bidadi Township Land Acquisition Compensation Details

As part of the project, land acquisition has been cleared, with landowners given the option to choose between monetary compensation or developed land. According to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, those giving one acre of land can opt for 9,693 square feet of developed residential plot instead of cash.

The government is also expected to offer compensation in the range of around Rs 2 crore to Rs 2.5 crore per acre for acquired land.

Bidadi Township Project Villages and Development Plan

The project will cover multiple villages including Byramangala, Bannigiri, Vaderahalli, Kanchuganahalli, Kempayyanapalya, Mandalahalli and Aralalasandra. The township is planned as a mixed use development with residential, commercial and infrastructure components.

A part of the township has also been earmarked for an emerging technology zone, including plans for an AI city.

Bidadi Township Project Aim to Decongest Bengaluru

The project is being seen as an attempt to decongest Bengaluru by creating a new urban centre in the southern part of the region. It is also expected to shift some development activity away from the already saturated east and north Bengaluru corridors.

The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project is being spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and has been described as a key urban expansion plan for the city.

The project has faced opposition from Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and protests from sections of farmers over land acquisition concerns.

Farmers in the region have raised concerns over the loss of fertile agricultural land and the compensation being offered. Opposition leader R. Ashoka said that nearly 6,500 acres out of the 9,600 acres identified for acquisition are productive farmland. He pointed out that the area has over 10 lakh coconut and mango trees, and around 6.5 lakh litres of milk from these villages is supplied daily to the Karnataka Milk Federation. Around 3,500 families depend on this land for their livelihood.

Local farmers have strongly opposed the move, saying the land is their only source of income and cannot be replaced. Many also see the project as part of a broader push towards industrial expansion in the Bidadi region, where companies like Coca-Cola, Toyota and Bosch already have manufacturing units.

Farmers have also demanded higher compensation. The state has proposed a 50:50 compensation model, offering developed plots in return for land, along with monetary compensation ranging between Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 3 crore per acre. It has also proposed annual annuities between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 per acre from the time of final notification until compensation is paid or sites are allotted. Landless families are to receive Rs 25,000 per year. However, farmers are seeking Rs 5 crore to Rs 6 crore per acre, citing the sharp rise in land prices in the Bidadi industrial area over the years.