24 corporate entities shortlisted for Knowledge City contract

24 corporate entities shortlisted for Knowledge City contract

The Hindu

The Rs. 50,000-crore project is coming up at Bidadi

MYSORE: The State Government has shortlisted 24 leading corporate entities, including the groups headed by Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, for developing the state-of-the-art mega project — Knowledge City — on 10,000 acres at Bidadi near Bangalore.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA), which is implementing the Rs. 50,000-crore project on public-private participation (PPP) model, had invited global tenders for developing the project, which is said to be one of its kind in the country.

The companies headed by Mr. Mukesh Ambani, Mr. Anil Ambani, seven promoters from Dubai and four from Malaysia are vying for bagging the prestigious contract.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, M.N. Vidyashankar, Secretary, IT, BT and Science and Technology, said 25,000 acres of built-up space would be created on 10,000 acres on the concept of "plug in and play" and "live and earn".

The Knowledge City would exclusively cater to the IT industry for which Bangalore had become the "one-stop destination" for expansion.

Mr. Vidyashankar said the acquisition of land for the mega project was half-way-through and the land would be fully ready in 18 months. He disclosed that similar projects on the lines of Knowledge City were also on the cards. Four townships suiting the IT industry had been proposed at Nandagudi (14,000 acres), Solur near Kanakapura (10,000 acres), Ramanagaram and Nelamangala.