Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said nearly 80 per cent of farmers had consented to the proposed Greater Bengaluru township project at Bidadi near Ramanagara, adding that compensation payments would begin from the first week of June. The project, widely referred to as the Bidadi township project, is planned across 7,481 acres, with the Karnataka government likely to issue the final land acquisition notification within a week.
The ambitious township project, approved by the Karnataka Cabinet in April, has triggered a political clash between the Congress government and Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, with both leaders accusing each other over the origins and intentions behind the project.
Karnataka Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar reported that nearly 80% of farmers consented to the 7,481-acre Greater Bengaluru township project at Bidadi, with compensation starting in early June and final land acquisition notices expected soon.
Compensation Process to Begin in June
Speaking about the project, Shivakumar said the government had already held discussions with farmers regarding land acquisition and compensation.
According to him, most affected farmers had agreed to the proposal and were requesting quicker compensation disbursal from the government. “More or less 80 per cent of the farmers came and gave their consent. They also urged us to release the compensation as early as possible,” Shivakumar said.
The deputy chief minister added that final land acquisition notifications would be issued village-wise within the next few days. “Within three days, the notification will be issued, and from the first week of June, we will begin releasing compensation to all of them,” he stated.
What Is the Greater Bengaluru Township Project?
The proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Suburban Project is a large-scale township initiative planned near Bidadi in Ramanagara district.
The Rs 18,133 crore project was approved during the Karnataka Cabinet meeting held on April 30 and is expected to cover around 7,481 acres across nine villages in Bengaluru South district and Ramanagara taluk.
The state government says the township is aimed at expanding Bengaluru’s suburban infrastructure while easing pressure on the city’s rapidly growing urban population.
Roads and Connectivity Plans Explained
Shivakumar said the proposed township would receive major road connectivity through several important corridors around Bengaluru.
According to him, the project will be linked through:
- Kanakapura Road
- Bengaluru-Mysuru Road
- NICE Road
- Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR)
The deputy chief minister said nearly 40 kilometres of roads would eventually connect the township area. “We also want to connect this township through roads from Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru-Mysuru Road and NICE Road. STRR should also be linked,” he said.
Farmers get
9693 Sqft Developed residential land or 8723 Sqft Commercial land for 1 acre lan
1800 Acre residential area & 5681 acre plotted project which will be used for commercial buildings
Residential Land Development cost: 1.5Cr
Commercial Land Development: 0.66Cr pic.twitter.com/72mlaNu7Cd— Karnataka Development Index (@IndexKarnataka) May 8, 2026
DK Shivakumar Targets HD Kumaraswamy
The township project has also intensified the political battle between Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy.
While Kumaraswamy accused the Karnataka government of turning the township into an “official real-estate business,” Shivakumar countered by claiming the original proposal itself was notified during Kumaraswamy’s earlier tenure as chief minister. “This is not something I initiated. It had already been notified during Kumaraswamy’s tenure. The project had been given to DLF earlier,” Shivakumar said.
According to Shivakumar, DLF later withdrew from the proposal citing lack of viability.
He also accused previous governments of creating what opponents now describe as a “real-estate mafia.” “Who created the real-estate mafia? They were the ones who handed this over to DLF earlier. Let them come and debate,” he said.
The Congress leader further challenged Kumaraswamy to a public debate at any location and time chosen by the JD(S) leader.
Farmers Asked Not to Sell Land Quickly
Shivakumar also urged farmers not to rush into selling their remaining lands immediately after receiving compensation.
He argued that land values in the Bidadi and Ramanagara region would increase significantly once the township and infrastructure projects are completed. “I have explained to them that they should not rush to sell their lands because they do not yet understand the future value of this area,” he said.
According to the government, the township could eventually transform the surrounding region into a major suburban growth corridor connected closely with Bengaluru’s expanding urban network.
Opposition Demands Project Be Stopped
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy has demanded an immediate halt to the land acquisition process, alleging that the state government is using the project mainly for real-estate interests.
The Union Minister questioned the need for such a large-scale acquisition and accused the Congress government of prioritising commercial gains over farmers’ interests.
Despite the criticism, the Karnataka government appears determined to move ahead with the project, especially after securing consent from a majority of farmers, according to Shivakumar.
