Bengaluru, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on October 5 that the government is formulating a comprehensive development plan for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region. This roadmap will span 10 to 15 years, emphasizing transport, housing, water supply, and industrial growth.
During a meeting at his official residence with the advisory committee on the economic development of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region (BMR), Shivakumar outlined the government’s commitment to long-term infrastructure development to meet the state’s economic goals. He stated that the aim is to elevate the state’s economy to $1 trillion by 2047, with an interim target of $400-420 billion by 2037.
To achieve these objectives, the government is developing plans for smooth transportation, housing, and industrial expansion in the BMR. Additionally, there are plans to establish nine new integrated industrial townships to boost industrial growth and create job opportunities. So far, 7,900 acres of land have been acquired, with another 5,600 acres currently undergoing acquisition.
Shivakumar also mentioned the government’s initiative to set up an AI city in the region, modeled after Singapore’s Punggol. He stressed the need for identifying suitable locations for an AI university, which is also in the proposal.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda highlighted the government’s phased approach to systematically develop drinking water and sewage infrastructure across the Bengaluru urban district. He reported that the entire urban district will come under the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), enhancing water distribution and sewage infrastructure.
The government plans to identify the entire road network in Bengaluru urban district and will prepare a comprehensive development plan. Shivakumar emphasized that all areas in the urban district would fall under the jurisdiction of urban local bodies to ensure better delivery of urban services.
The meeting also discussed a comprehensive transport plan aimed at improving connectivity between Bengaluru and its rapidly developing outskirts. The government intends to expand the metro network by 312 kilometers by 2037 and proposed an additional 72 kilometers of suburban rail network to enhance connectivity.
Plans for a 210-kilometer circular road connecting ten major centers around Bengaluru were also on the agenda. Discussions included proposals to connect the second phase of the Peripheral Ring Road to NICE Road to alleviate traffic congestion.
Further, the construction of a 270-kilometer Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor linking Bengaluru with Tumakuru, Mysuru, and KGF was discussed. Suggestions were made to extend the proposed Mumbai-Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor to Mysuru, strengthening connectivity between Bengaluru and other major cities in the state.
By 2037, the BMR is expected to require approximately 3,600 million liters of water daily. The meeting addressed measures to meet the increasing demands for drinking and industrial water in the region. Shivakumar instructed officials to plan for the water needs of Bengaluru and its surroundings over the next decade.
The government will focus on recycling treated wastewater and replenishing lakes as part of its long-term water management strategy. Ensuring sufficient water availability for both residential and industrial needs is a priority.
The proposed expansion of water distribution and sewage infrastructure in the Bengaluru urban district aims to support the growing population and economic activities in the area. The government is also planning to address the housing needs of the increasing population in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region.
The commitment to provide affordable housing for all remains strong, with plans to construct between 600,000 to 650,000 homes. Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 housing units will be dedicated to workers in various industries.
These housing, transport, water, and industrial infrastructure projects will form part of a comprehensive long-term development strategy for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region. The advisory committee meeting focused on aligning these projects with the state’s long-term economic goals, ensuring that infrastructure development keeps pace with Bengaluru’s expansion.
The government aims to prepare the region for projected population growth and economic development through an integrated plan encompassing transport, industrialization, housing, water supply, sewage, and civic infrastructure.
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