Forget basic infra, lets have a hi-tech city

A Hi-tech City for techies soon
This BDA project will add another dimension to the city's knowledge industry circuit. B S Manu Rao reports
The Times of India

Moving ahead with its agenda of building urban infrastructure, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is now set to create another landmark with a 1,070-acre Hi-tech City. This project, just 14 km from the city, will be thrown open to organisations in the knowledge industry, to make it a one-of-its-kind 'knowledge hub'. Plots will be sold through open bids in dimensions of 10, 15 and 25 acres. While the land is only for commercial use, a part of the plot will be allowed to be earmarked for residential purposes by the organisations. The infrastructure works of the project will begin next month and is scheduled to be completed in seven months. Plots will be auctioned in December this year.

Hi-tech City is unique in that its land use is restricted to the knowledge industry and even designs of buildings organisations put up here will be restricted to predefined specifications. With this project, BDA aims at bringing in the concept of 'guided development' in its essence for the first time to the city. The project requires policy amendments and the process is on.

Hi-tech City will take shape in the form of a 'corridor' stretching from the Outer Ring Road-Belandur Junction till the Electronic City (Phase II), a distance of 8.5 km. A six-lane road will run through the Hi-tech City with limited U-turns to make traffic movement across the centre smooth and quick. Arterial and interior roads will be planned to connect the different sectors of the Hi-tech City efficiently, keeping in view the traffic density over a period of time. Entry/exit points to this entire belt will be provided at strategic locations to ensure free flow of traffic and no pile ups. All service roads will run only parallel to the six-lane road. The BDA is acquiring 200 metres of land all along either side of the six-lane road to preserve a 'green belt' along the road to keep it free of congestion arising out of development close to the road.

This project will be backed with all civic amenities a knowledge belt of this sort would need. A state-ofthe-art convention centre and related facilities are part of the plans. Around 20 acres of land is being earmarked for civic amenities comprising parks and development around lakes in the vicinity. All basic facilities such as telephone exchange, hospital, shopping, bus terminal, electrical sub-station etc are being provided. Five lakes in the region are being rejuvenated and developed into recreational areas.

Cauvery water will be supplied to the entire hub. With water mains running on either sides, there will be no need to dig across roads for water connections. The water supply will be
in accordance
with BWSSB's standard of 120 litres per capita per day. The main feeder line to Bangalore passes through this region and it will be tapped at a suitable point to bring water to a ground-level reservoir that is being constructed. Water will be pumped from here to the individual connections in the Hi-tech City.

The sewerage network will be designed to create gravity flow conditions. It is aimed at generating a self-cleansing velocity using steep slopes. The size of the lines will be decided on the basis of estimated population to prevent clogging. Plans are afoot to set up a treatment plant to prevent further pollution of ground water. Storm water drains will be made connecting all the five tanks in the locality. The entire side drainage system in the belt will be connected to these storm water drains. This aims at draining rainwater quickly so as not to flood the locality. Iron gratings will be fitted at intake points of storm water drains to prevent blocking from solid waste.

Two mobile water treatment plants with a combined treating capacity of one million litres per day, made by a French firm, will be available to the organisations in the Hi-tech City. The plants will treat water from nearby lakes and supply the treated water for potable use.

All these facilities are estimated to cost the BDA around Rs 390 crores (including land acquisition). A second phase of this project will take shape in 2005.

With the knowledge industry organisations coming here, a host of residential and related commercial developments are on the cards. Housing to cater to the needs of those working here will find a demand in the region. With people moving into the vicinity, shopping and the gamut of services that cater to residential areas will see opportunities. The overall development of Hi-tech City into a self-contained centre with schools, housing options, shopping centres, medical facilities, and entertainment is the big picture BDA plans to see painted.