Bengaluru Must Build Upwards, Says Chief Minister Shivakumar

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday stated that the Karnataka government is considering the vertical development of Bengaluru as the city continues to experience rapid growth. He stressed that expanding upwards has become inevitable due to the increasing migration of people seeking education, healthcare, and employment.

Speaking at the Kempe Gowda Jayanti celebrations, Mr. Shivakumar noted that the entire world is looking at Bengaluru today, a feat attributed to the foresight of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, who founded the city five centuries ago. “He could not have imagined that it would grow to this extent. Yet, it is his foresight that has made this growth possible,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Shivakumar emphasized the need for vertical development as the city’s limits continue to expand. He made these remarks after paying floral tributes to Kempe Gowda at Yelahanka. Earlier, he launched the celebrations at the 108-foot bronze statue of Kempe Gowda near Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Later, he visited Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout to inaugurate a sapling drive and the S.M. Krishna Road.

The Chief Minister announced that the government would prepare an action plan to educate visitors about the history and legacy of the city’s founder. He instructed the airport authority to develop facilities around the Trumpet interchange to prominently showcase Kempe Gowda’s contributions. Additionally, Kempe Gowda Jayanti will now be celebrated in Bengaluru’s 28 Assembly constituencies over the next 28 years, moving beyond Vidhana Soudha.

Describing Kempe Gowda as a “Vishwamanava” (universal man), Mr. Shivakumar said the founder belongs to all communities and his ideals should guide the city’s future development.

The government has drawn up infrastructure projects worth ₹1.25 lakh crore for Bengaluru, reiterating that the city’s development is central to Karnataka’s progress. Mr. Shivakumar highlighted initiatives such as digitisation of property records, implementation of e-Khata, and conversion of B-Khata properties to A-Khata to provide legal certainty to property owners.

As part of the celebrations, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) organised a 15-lakh sapling planting drive. Mr. Shivakumar also inaugurated the Major Arterial Road, renamed S.M. Krishna Road, in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.

The government has initiated the acquisition of 10 acres of land near Kempe Gowda’s samadhi at Magadi, with 5.5 acres already purchased. A ₹100 crore comprehensive development of the Kempegowda Fort is underway. A town planning college and Kempegowda Bhavan are also being developed in his memory.

Noting that the city has a population of 1.40 crore and nearly 1.30 crore vehicles, Mr. Shivakumar said, “No matter how much we expand the metro network or strengthen public transport, every person owns a vehicle.” He added that metro connectivity to the airport would be provided within the next year, and the metro network is planned to expand to 500 km over the next two years, with Minister Krishna Byre Gowda working on this vision.