The Karnataka Cabinet Thursday cleared the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project to be taken up first in 10 villages of Ramanagara district. The Township is considered a pet project of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The project was proposed by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority last year after it identified three sites on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The site chosen by the Cabinet is located near Bidadi in Ramanagara district and will come up on 8,032 acres and 37 gunta land in the 10 villages.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil told reporters that the project would reduce congestion in Bengaluru by creating the required infrastructure in towns closer to Bengaluru. Apart from Bidadi, the towns identified for integrated townships include Devanahalli, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Doddaballapur, and Magadi. The integrated townships concept around Bengaluru was first proposed in 2006.
The townships will have a mix of logistic parks, commercial establishments, and residential spaces.
During the meeting, the Cabinet also cleared the Karnataka Water Security and Disaster Resilience Program. Patil said that the World Bank-funded project would cost Rs 5,000 crore, and will help mitigate floods and ensure water security.
“Of the amount, Rs 3,500 crore will be provided as loan by the World Bank, while the state government will raise Rs 1,500 crore for the project,” he said.
A new Public Private Partnership policy for infrastructure projects in the state was also cleared by the Cabinet. The policy, according to Patil, will increase private participation in various projects. The new version of the policy has brought in some changes to the one implemented in 2018.
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