Karnataka to Plan 'Second Bengaluru' Following NITI Aayog Proposal
The Karnataka state government has decided to prepare a plan to establish a "second Bengaluru" following a recommendation by NITI Aayog aimed at easing mounting infrastructural pressure on the state capital.
Bengaluru has expanded from a relatively compact urban centre of about 40 lakh residents in 1991 into a sprawling metropolitan region with a population exceeding 1.3 crore people. The municipal footprint has grown dramatically over the decades, increasing from 69 square kilometres in the mid-20th century to 226 square kilometres by 1995, and now covering more than 710 square kilometres under the Greater Bengaluru framework.
This continuous expansion has placed relentless strain on civic infrastructure, notably public transport, road networks, drainage, and water supply systems. The city now confronts structural issues that include chronic traffic congestion, water scarcity, groundwater depletion, and the steady loss of green spaces, problems that cannot be solved solely by expanding administrative boundaries.
Bengaluru remains a primary economic engine for the region. Karnataka's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the 2025-26 fiscal year stood at Rs 32.81 lakh crore, recording an 8.1 percent growth rate. The services sector generates nearly 70 percent of the state's GSDP, driven by a heavy concentration of technology enterprises, startups, financial firms, research facilities, and multinational corporations based in the capital.
Previous regional policies have focused on renaming neighbouring areas as extensions of the metropolis, such as designating Ramanagara as Bengaluru South or proposing Bengaluru North for Tumakuru. While these moves have created stronger real-estate branding, they have not created independent economic centres, leading instead to speculative development, longer commuting distances, and increased pressure on existing urban infrastructure.
The framework for an effective second hub envisions a tier-2 city equipped with an operational airport, established educational institutions, reliable connectivity, and a salubrious climate. Locations such as Belagavi and Shivamogga have been highlighted as potential candidates capable of supporting a comprehensive economic ecosystem covering technology, manufacturing, research, education, and services.
To move the project forward, requirements outline that the central government must complement policy recommendations with tangible financial backing. This includes targeted capital grants, viability-gap funding, and concessional financing directed towards industrial parks, digital infrastructure, transport networks, water management, and urban municipal services.
