Just a year ago, when a mega tech infrastructure venture, Knowledge City, in Bidadi, was proposed, not many thought the project would get off the ground a year down the line. The 10,000-acre Knowledge City project attracted several big ticket infrastructure players, including large players from Dubai and Malaysia. In all, 32 consortia, comprising over 100 companies had evinced interest in the project.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA) had then short-listed 24 leading players before it recently granted the $15 billion project to DLF Ltd, to would work on the project in association with Dubai-based Limitless Holdings, a part of Nakheel and Dubai World Group. California-based architecture and design firm, Calthorpe Associates has been appointed as the master planner of the project.


Touted to be a one-of-its-kind public-private participation venture in the country, Bidadi Knowledge City, an integrated township that is expected to facilitate worldclass live-work infrastructure would physically link Bangalore to its logical extension, Mysore, said M N Vidyashankar, the State's Secretary for IT and BT. "This is going to be one of the biggest and the best live-work infrastructure in the entire country. This will play a key role in taking Bangalore and Karnataka to a next orbit of business growth. It will also greatly decongest Bangalore", he said.

Bidadi Knowledge City will have a dedicated metro rail connection to Bangalore city. The township will also have malls, multiplexes, hotels and serviced apartments apart from offices and residential apartments. A built-up space of 25,000 acres would be created on this 10,000 acres of land.
Interestingly, a state-wide last mile access vehicle, 'Bangalore Unwired' (on Wi-Max platform) will provide seamless, affordable broadband connectivity for the Knowledge City, in Bidadi over 30 km away from Bangalore.

The Bidadi Knowledge City and township will have a dedicated metro rail connecting Bangalore and later to Mysore. Additional ring roads are currently being developed to enhance the existing connectivity and logistics. The township which would have 14 special economic zones would have direct rail and road links to the international airport in Devanahalli too.

The township is set to be self sustaining, and will be developed on a theme of 'walk-to-work'. According to Vidyashankar, More IT/BPO hubs and corridors are being identified in the State to help de-congest Bangalore and facilitate growth in secondary cities like Mysore.

Factors like infrastructure, connectivity and human resources are given additional thrust. Other projects include a 14,000-acre township at Nandagudi and 10,000-acre townships in Solur near Kanakapura, Ramanagaram and Nelamangala, in addition to IT parks being planned in Hubli-Dharward and Belgaum.

Source: TOI Property