Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Kumaraswamy cites 2006 Congress report against Bidadi township project
Some grown-ups are having a big argument about building many new houses and offices in a place near a city called Bengaluru in India.
The buildings would be part of something called the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township.
Some people think building it is a bad idea, so they are walking together in a long march called a padayatra.
The march is supposed to last three days.
A leader named H D Kumaraswamy helped start the march.
He found an old report from 2006 that said the same kind of building plan was a bad idea.
That old report was made by the Congress party, and one of the people who helped make it is now the leader of the state.
Mr. Kumaraswamy also says that some people who want to give their land are brokers who want to earn lots of money.
He says they bought the land cheaply and now want the government to pay a lot more for it.
He promised that more things will be revealed during a special meeting of the lawmakers.
The JD(S), backed by coalition partner BJP, launched a three-day padayatra on Sunday against the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project.
The township is expected to come up on about 7,481 acres in nine villages near Bidadi.
Union minister H D Kumaraswamy cited a 2006 Congress fact-finding committee report that opposed the Bidadi township project when it was first proposed.
That committee included D K Shivakumar, who is now the chief minister, Kumaraswamy said.
Kumaraswamy alleged that people willing to give land are brokers who bought it at Rs 5-10 lakh per acre and now want to sell it to the government at a high price.
- Who
- Union minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, along with Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, launched the protest with the support of the BJP.
- What
- A three-day padayatra against the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) project, which is expected to cover about 7,481 acres in nine villages near Bidadi.
- When
- The padayatra was launched on Sunday and is scheduled to last three days.
- Where
- Byramangala in Bengaluru South district, Karnataka; the project is proposed near Bidadi.
- Why
- To oppose the GBIT project, citing a 2006 Congress report that had opposed the township and alleging that land brokers stand to profit from inflated government purchase prices.
Opponents of the township project
Government and project backers
Bidadi township project
Opponents of the township project
The JD(S) and BJP launched a padayatra against the GBIT project, citing a 2006 Congress fact-finding committee report that opposed the township when it was first proposed.
Government and project backers
The project is being proposed to come up on about 7,481 acres in nine villages near Bidadi and is being pursued under the current state government, now led by Congress chief minister D K Shivakumar, whose 2006 committee had opposed it.
Land sellers and pricing
Opponents of the township project
Kumaraswamy alleged that people willing to give land are brokers who bought it at Rs 5-10 lakh per acre and now want to sell it to the government at a high price, and promised to bring the matter to light in the legislature's monsoon session.
Government and project backers
Some landowners are willing to transfer their land to the government, which is what would allow the project to proceed; the article notes their willingness without confirming Kumaraswamy's characterisation of them as brokers.
- Project
- Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT)
- Proposed area
- About 7,481 acres
- Villages affected
- Nine villages near Bidadi
- Protest
- Three-day padayatra launched by JD(S) with BJP support
- Launch venue
- Byramangala, Bengaluru South district
- Report cited
- 2006 Congress fact-finding committee report (committee included D K Shivakumar)