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(Janata Dal (Secular) via PTI Photo) Bidadi, a small town on the outskirts of Bengaluru, has become the centre of a major controversy in Karnataka.At the centre of the row is the proposed Bidadi Smart City project, officially known as the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), which the Congress-led Karnataka government is moving forward with despite strong pushback from farmers, local residents, environmentalists, and opposition parties.For chief minister DK Shivakumar – the Bidadi township is widely regarded as one of his most ambitious projects – the controversy comes just days after Congress elevated him to Karnataka’s top post.The issue has therefore acquired added political significance.Bidadi Smart City: India’s ‘first AI City’Termed by Shivakumar as the country’s “first AI City,” GBIT has been envisioned as a futuristic township and a sprawling work-live-play urban hub on the outskirts of Bengaluru.GBIT was initially conceived as the Bidadi Integrated Township in 2006 by Janata Dal (Secular) leader and then-chief minister HD Kumaraswamy as a housing solution for Bengaluru’s rapidly growing population. However, the proposal remained in abeyance for several years after real estate major DLF withdrew from the project following the global economic crisis of 2008-09. GBIT project timelineIn its current form, the project is estimated to cost Rs 18,133 crore and is planned across 7,481 acres spanning nine villages in Ramanagara and Harohalli taluks. On June 11, the administration issued a final acquisition notification for 499 acres across three villages. However, this is widely seen as the first step in a broader land acquisition process that could eventually extend across the entire proposed area. GBIT project in a nutshellIts key features would include AI-powered industrial and residential zones, employment opportunities for local communities, world-class schools and hospitals, and zero-traffic mobility corridors, among other planned amenities. Features of GBIT project However, criticism has continued to mount, prompting the state government to defend the proposed township as a key component of Bengaluru’s future growth.Bengaluru’s population pressure and Bidadi townshipLike the-then ruling BJP-JD(S) combine in 2006, the incumbent Congress government argues that GBIT is crucial to Bengaluru’s long-term expansion and to easing pressure on the city’s infrastructure—a position that is reflected in the demographic data.The metropolis was already home to more than 85 lakh people in 2011, as per the Census. An October 2025 report by Karnataka’s Directorate of Economics and Statistics projects Bengaluru’s population to rise from around 1.22 crore in 2021 to nearly 1.47 crore by 2031. Between 2025 and 2026 alone, the city’s population is estimated to have grown by 1.93%—the highest rate in the state. Bengaluru populationAs of 2021, Bengaluru accounted for 18.2% of Karnataka’s nearly 7 crore residents. Experts expect this share to rise to 20.7% by 2031, attributing the trend to the city’s strong migratory pull, driven by its diverse job market and its position as India’s foremost IT hub.Therefore, the data underscores the pressures associated with Bengaluru’s continued population growth and the broader debate over how that growth should be accommodated.This is where townships such as Bidadi enter the conversation.Yet, the debate is far from straightforward.Why farmers are up in arms against Bidadi townshipFarmer opposition to the project has been persistent. In the Ramanagara district, where Bidadi is located, protests have continued for more than 400 days.Cultivators argue that the township threatens fertile agricultural land, livelihoods and the local ecology, while also raising concerns about the land acquisition process and whether a sufficient number of affected landowners have consented to the project.Farmer leaders accuse the state government of occupying their fertile land without their consent.”This is cultivated and irrigated land. Not even one acre is uncultivated. Agriculture is going very well. They came here and occupied this land without our permission. There has been no discussion with farmers,” PTI quoted BN Srinivas Reddy, leader of a local farmers union, as saying.Another protesting farmer, Sumitra, also criticised the project.”The CM is saying they will do the Bidadi township project. This is all false. By doing this, they want to fill their treasuries,” she added.To address concerns over the acquisition, the Karnataka government has offered affected landowners two broad options: monetary compensation or a share in the developed township. Landowners can either opt for compensation of Rs 2.07 crore to Rs 2.5 crore per acre, depending on the land category, or retain up to a 50% share in the developed land. GBIT project: Compensation documentsAuthorities have also fixed compensation for trees that would be felled to make way for the “AI City”: Rs 25,000 per coconut tree, Rs 45,000 for a mango tree and Rs 6,000 for an arecanut tree.However, intensifying their campaign, protesters have written to senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. They urged him to intervene and halt the acquisitions, which they say are being carried out without adequate consultation and could affect hundreds of farming families.Bidadi township: Land, livelihood, and ecologyAccording to an online petition, as many as 5,000 farmers across the nine revenue villages stand to lose their fertile agricultural land if the proposal proceeds.As per the petition, accommodating the “AI City” would require felling around 2 lakh trees, including 87,903 coconut trees, 83,536 arecanut trees, 12,550 mango trees and 2,344 chikoo trees. The petition further claims that more than 3 lakh banana plants would also be uprooted as part of the development.Additional claimed impacts include the potential loss of livelihoods for around 3,500 families, along with those engaged in dairy farming, horticulture, sericulture and other allied rural activities; loss of groundwater recharge and water security; and loss of active food production, with ragi alone cultivated on 231 acres of the proposed project area.With so much at stake, the project has sparked a battle of competing narratives. Both the ruling dispensation and the opposition cite the same figure—80% of affected farmers—but arrive at opposite conclusions: the government says 80% support the township, while the opposition insists that 80% are against it.Bidadi township row: Political stakes for CongressThe controversy comes as an early challenge for Shivakumar, who took oath as chief minister on June 3, ending a long wait.However, even as the political back-and-forth continues — largely between Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy — any electoral fallout from the controversy is unlikely to be immediate for the Congress, as Karnataka is not scheduled to go to the polls until May 2028.Yet, prolonged farmer opposition could carry political implications in the longer term. As per Census 2011, Karnataka had 13.74 million (1.37 crore) workers linked to the agricultural sector. Of these, 23.61% were cultivators and 25.67% were agricultural labourers.The party also holds all four assembly constituencies in Ramanagara district. This includes Kanakapura, a DK Shivakumar stronghold.What lies ahead for Bidadi township projectGBIT is the third major infrastructure-related project of a Congress government in Karnataka to face sustained public opposition.In July last year, a plan to acquire 1,777 acres for an aerospace park near Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport was rolled back as farmers were opposed to it.In March 2017, a proposal to construct a steel flyover in the heart of Bengaluru was scrapped. The flyover would have required the felling of 812 trees.For GBIT, the government has initiated the process of compensating farmers whose land has been acquired for the project.Meanwhile, the JD(S) has indicated that it will move the Karnataka high court against the proposed township.For now, the debate over the project shows no signs of ending. The controversy also reflects a broader challenge facing Karnataka as it seeks to accommodate Bengaluru’s projected population growth while balancing concerns over land, livelihoods and development.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorKaran ManralKaran Manral is a journalist at the Times of India. He covers politics, social issues, and international affairs, exploring stories that affect people’s everyday lives. 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Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Visit Ram Temple, Do Penance’: Yogi Adityanath Attacks Akhilesh Yadav Amid Donation Row | AyodhyaDelhi-Varanasi Bullet Train To Cut Delhi-Lucknow Travel Time To 2 Hours 10 Minutes: Ashwini VaishnawMahua Moitra’s Explosive Attack Over Ram Mandir Donation Row| ’70 KG Silver, 1,250 KG Gold Missing?’Mumbai Police Foil Alleged Mass Poisoning Bid at Muharram Procession; 14,900 Toxic Capsules SeizedCong Seeks Bigger Role in UP Alliance; New In-Charge’s ‘Equal Share’ Pitch Raises Stakes: ReportsBharat Taxi Rolls Out as India’s First Cooperative Cab Service; 500-City Expansion PlannedSix Op Sindoor Personnel Honoured; Opposition Questions Rajnath Singh’s Parliament RemarksOver 1.2 Lakh Waqf Assets Still Await Verification As June 30 Deadline NearsKarnataka Man Pulls Out Crude Bombs After Lover ‘Refused’ To Marry Him, Dies In ExplosionNCB Report Warns Of Nitazenes, Myanmar Route; Flags Telegram As Key Hub For Drug Ads123PhotostoriesSingle or married? 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