BDA to float global query for designing mega townships

BDA to float global query for designing mega townships

S. Rajendran

The layouts will spread across 15,000 acres of prime land around Bangalore

4,000 acres of land will be set apart for integrated townships

Bangalore: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which is in the process of forming five-mega residential layouts, has decided to outsource the design of these townships to global designers and architects.

Sources in the Government told The Hindu that it is for the first time that the BDA is forming massive layouts aimed at providing 1.7 lakh residential sites spread across 15,000 acres of prime lands around Bangalore. “We want to attract the best of talent to design the layouts which should be one of their kind in the country.” Meanwhile, a high-level meeting of the BDA has decided not to take a decision on the proposal of the Industries Department asking it to part with around 1,000 of the 15,000 acres of land to develop integrated industrial townships.

The BDA plan itself is to develop integrated townships such that people from one area need not cross the city either to go to their work place or for shopping and entertainment. A high-power committee of the H.D. Kumaraswamy government had in September recommended to the BDA to part with 1,000 acres of land for the integrated townships. The BDA had stated that if the Government so wished then consultations could be held.

Commissioner of the BDA M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda told The Hindu that while 1,000 acres of land of the new layouts would be for the development of integrated townships along the western corridor of the city (Rajajinagar-Magadi road-Kengeri), another 3,000 acres of land would be set apart for such townships along the eastern corridor (Sarjapura-Marathahalli). Mr. Gowda said the plan of the BDA was to develop five layouts simultaneously and the sites would be ready for allotment in about six months.

“As per an estimation of the Government, the requirement of house sites in Bangalore is around 2.1 lakh, and I am confident that the demands of the people will be met substantially in one go.”