Karnataka Notifies 499 Acres in Bidadi for Rs 20000 Crore AI City Township

The Karnataka government has issued a final notification to acquire nearly 500 acres of land in Bidadi and surrounding villages for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, overriding opposition from local farmers and political parties. The acquisition marks the first phase of land physical takeover for the Rs 20,000-crore project, which has been championed by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as "India's first AI City."

The final notification covers exactly 499 acres of land across three villages. Kempayyanapalya in Bidadi Hobli will bear the brunt of the first phase, with 367 acres marked for acquisition. Additionally, the government will acquire 70 acres in Mandalahalli village of Bidadi Hobli and 61 acres in Vaderahalli village of Harohalli Hobli.

The government's move comes despite ongoing protests from local landowners and farmers who fear the loss of fertile agricultural land, their livelihoods, and the rural character of the region. The state cabinet gave its final approval to the project recently, following a preliminary acquisition notification issued by the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) in March 2025.

The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) is planned to eventually span 7,481 acres across nine villages. The government envisions the project as a massive work-live-play urban hub. Planned features include technology-driven industrial zones, 17 lakes, 1,080 acres of parks, AI-enabled homes, schools, medical hubs, and zero-traffic mobility corridors.

To execute the acquisition, the government has authorized the commissioner of the GBDA and the Special Land Acquisition Officer-II in Ramanagara. According to the official notification, the government examined all objections before deciding to proceed. Compensation packages for landowners are expected to range from Rs 2.07 crore to Rs 2.5 crore per acre, with an alternative option of up to a 50 percent share in the developed land.