Bidadi Township Row Escalates: HD Kumaraswamy Challenges CM Shivakumar to Open Debate at Protest Site

The political tug-of-war over the ambitious Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project has reached a boiling point. Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has openly challenged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to a public debate regarding the project and its aggressive land acquisition strategies.

Rejecting the Chief Minister’s invitation for a closed-door discussion at the Vidhana Soudha, Kumaraswamy demanded that any debate take place in Byramangala—the epicenter where local farmers have been protesting the project for over 450 days.

Bidadi Township: The GBIT Project: Bengaluru’s “AI-Powered” Expansion

At the heart of the controversy is the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, previously known as the Bidadi Smart City project. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Shivakumar, the ₹13,000 crore mega-project aims to acquire nearly 7,481 acres across nine villages in the Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks.

Pitched as India’s first “AI-powered township” and a “work-live-play” second Central Business District (CBD), the government argues the project is essential to decongest Bengaluru. However, local residents paint a different picture. The proposed land encompasses thousands of acres of highly fertile agricultural property, which currently sustains massive yields of coconut, mango, and other crops for thousands of families.

“Come to Byramangala”: Kumaraswamy’s Challenge

Chief Minister Shivakumar recently invited Kumaraswamy and a five-member team to the state secretariat to discuss the township. Kumaraswamy quickly rejected the premise of a private meeting.

“There is no meaning in four or five of us discussing the issue at Vidhana Soudha,” Kumaraswamy told reporters. “Let’s go to the people at Byramangala, where women and the elderly have been sitting in protest for over 450 days. Let’s discuss it in front of them.”

The Union Minister highlighted that the government is forcefully acquiring land despite 80-90% of the local farmers opposing the move. He stressed that a meeting without the affected stakeholders—the farmers whose livelihoods are at stake—would serve no purpose.

A Reversal of Roles?

The current standoff is steeped in political irony. The Bidadi township was originally proposed in 2006 during Kumaraswamy’s own tenure as Chief Minister. However, Kumaraswamy points out that he abandoned the project without hesitation when farmers voiced their opposition.

He also called out the stark contradiction in the Congress party’s current stance. During his tenure, senior Congress leaders—including D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah—vehemently opposed the project, citing the destruction of fertile agricultural land and forests. Now, the same leaders are driving the project forward.

What Lies Ahead for the Farmers?

Despite the fierce opposition, the state government is pushing ahead. A final notification was recently issued for the acquisition of 499 acres across three villages for Phase 1 of the project, with the government fixing the compensation at ₹2.30 crore per acre, alongside a promise of developed land shares and livelihood annuities.

For the farmers of Byramangala and surrounding villages, the battle is far from over. With Kumaraswamy pledging to assist the farmers in taking their fight to the courts, the Bidadi Township row is shaping up to be one of the most contentious political and legal battles in Karnataka this year.