Corridors of uncertainty

Corridors of uncertainty
Deccan Herald

As the State swears by integrated IT-BT townships in space-strapped Bangalore, issues over land acquirement blot the vision roadmap.


Five years after Bangalore opened up to the potential of swanky IT corridors, the idea, by and large, remains the same. An idea. While software parks like the International Technology Park Bangalore (ITPB, and not ITPL, insist the park’s promoters) have heralded the concept of integrated development in the industry, other ambitious projects have been shut out from the State Government’s scheme of things too.

The much-hyped IT Corridor died a slow death after the promoters — Singapore-based Jurong Town Consultants — devised a plan independent of the BDA’s Masterplan 2015 for the city. The corridor is history now and the Government has moved on to new projects. However, the future is still on paper.

Hi Tech City, a township dedicated to the IT and Biotechnology sectors, is now waiting for a court nod to move ahead. With landowners moving the court on acquisitions by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) — which is the nodal agency for the project — is waiting for the court verdict.

The project’s kick-off date depends on the court verdict, according to BDA Commissioner M N Vidyashankar. The project ran into trouble after 102 petitions were filed against land acquisitions for the construction of the 997-acre township.

Hi Tech City, which took shape in late 2004, is proposed to cover 12 villages under Begur, Sarjapur and Varthur hoblis between Bellandur and Electronics City. Planned at a budget of around Rs 400 crore, the proposal has highlighted facilities like an international school, restaurants, recreational areas, convention centre and bus depots.

“We are still endorsing integrated townships, but we are moving away from the concept of dedicated corridors for IT or BT industries. Development should come in clusters, but those clusters should not be confined to certain pockets. What we are looking at is not an IT corridor, but an IT blanket,” says Mr M K Shankaralinge Gowda, Secretary to Department of IT, BT, Science and Technology.

“Not Government’s job”: The industry, even while welcoming the concept of integrated development, is apprehensive about the Government’s role in acquiring land and maintaining these townships. “The so-called scarcity of land for industrial development is artificial. If land acquirement is done solely based on the State’s diktat, landowners will obviously protest. Government agencies like BDA and KIADB should make way for private players to develop these townships,” says Mr R K Misra, former Vice-President — Flextronics. He also points out that land acquirement by private developers is going on without facing much opposition.

"The IT Corridor project had not taken into account the BDA’s 2015 Masterplan, making it increasingly tough to break through. However, the draft prepared for the IT Corridor has been effectively woven into the Hi Tech City plan. We are happy with the present plan."

M K Shankaralinge Gowda

Secretary to Department of IT, BT,

Science and Technology

"There is no need for the BDA to take up the construction of such townships. We don’t need 1000-acre townships if they are going to create more infrastructure problems to their neighbourhoods. Both the BDA and KIADB should refrain from acting like real estate agents. The solution to these litigations and delayed projects is one – the Government should let private players take over these projects. The whole problem stems from inefficiency. If you can’t maintain, don’t create"

R K Misra

Former VP Flextronics

"There has to be a start somewhere. Look at how well the DRDO Township in C V Raman Nagar is doing. When it started out, there were virtually no amenities in the area. The idea of integrated township is welcome, though I’m not looking at overnight miracles. After the initial issues with land acquisitions, these townships should do well. However, if we think that integrated townships are the only solution to Bangalore’s infrastructure problems, I’m worried"

Subu Vempati

VP and GM – Hewlett Packard

"As an idea, integrated townships are welcome because they ensure streamlined development and also ease traffic bottlenecks. However, the problem is that whenever such projects are announced the land prices shoot up and land-owners feel that they are not getting a fair price. Development doesn’t stop at conceptualisation. The challenge lies in implementation. And we should do it fast, because investment is already moving out of Bangalore"

C N Kumar,

President Advantage Solutions

Hi tech city

On paper

*Spread across 997 acres; expansion scope up to 5,000 acres

*BDA to provide infrastructure

*Includes a six-lane expressway connecting HAL Airport to Electronic City *Schools, restaurants, multiplexes, malls and more

*Fully networked convention centre and conference hall

*Residential plots with dual water lines

*Sites for all major IT/BT players

Sealed corridor

*A Rs 200-crore, 138 sq. km. township; mooted in 2000

*23-km corridor from Whitefield to Electronic City

*MoU between State Government and Jurong Town Consultants,

Singapore in June, 2000

*Project proposal made in 2003

*Bellandur farmers protest KIADB land acquisitions

*Dies down after initial studies and projections