Karnataka signs agreement with ISEG to prepare master plan to transform Bengaluru into world-class hub
Bengaluru, May 6
The Karnataka government has signed a Statement of Intent with the Institute for Sustainable Employment and Growth to prepare a comprehensive Economic Master Plan for Bengaluru and transform the city into a world-class hub.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department Tushar Giri Nath, and ISEG Director Shirish Sankhe exchanged signed documents in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at an event organised in Vidhana Soudha.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru Development, said, "As Bengaluru city completes 500 years after its formation, we have been deliberating on formulating a comprehensive Economic Master Plan for the period 2032 to 2037. We have therefore decided to give Bengaluru a new form and renewed strength."
"We have been making efforts for the past three years to make Bengaluru into a world-class hub. We have provided record levels of economic strength to Bengaluru and its surrounding areas over the last three years. The per capita income in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Area stands at $8,850 -- double the state average," he noted.
Bengaluru urban, rural, and southern districts together are spread over more than 8,000 square km, with a population of 16 million.
Bengaluru contributes 42 per cent of India's software exports.
"A blueprint will provide directions on where to create employment, where tourism should be developed, where housing schemes should be introduced, and how traffic congestion should be addressed," Shivakumar said.
"I have seen heavier traffic congestion in other cities of the country like Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. I am not blaming them. We have formulated a plan on how to solve this problem," he added.
"A plan worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore has been drawn up and is being implemented in a phased manner," he said.
"Instructions are being given to formulate a data-driven Economic Master Plan. This will not impose any financial burden on us. Opinions and suggestions will be sought from key citizens as well as sectors including energy, city corporations, water, urban development, information technology, and industries," the Deputy Chief Minister added.
"We are giving new shape to the decision taken to make Bengaluru a world-class hub. Bengaluru will be prepared to compete with global cities," Shivakumar said.
"The ISEG Foundation, which has come forward to sign this agreement with us, has already formulated such plans in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Pune, and Varanasi. They have been given four months, within which they will submit the blueprint," he added.
"I am instructing our officials to extend all necessary cooperation to them. Citizens of Bengaluru, developers, industrialists, and educational institutions must be taken into confidence to create a grand Master Plan," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see DK Shivakumar taking initiative, but I hope this doesn't turn into another Bengaluru infrastructure promise that gets lost in red tape. The ISEG team has done good work in Mumbai and Pune, so let's see. Also, per capita income doubling state average is impressive, but what about the inequality? Many cab drivers and delivery workers are struggling.
Another master plan, another 5-year wait. I remember similar promises about the Namma Metro phase upgrades. But if they actually execute this data-driven approach with real citizen feedback, maybe we might see some change. Four months for blueprint is optimistic though. 😅
As someone who moved to Bengaluru from the US for work, I appreciate the ambition. But the comparison with Mumbai and Delhi traffic is not reassuring. Bengaluru needs less talk and more action on water supply and waste management. Hope ISEG focuses on sustainability, not just economic growth.
DK Shivakumar's point about not blaming other cities is diplomatic, but let's be real - Bengaluru's traffic is unique because of poor urban planning. Including IT and industries in consultations is good, but what about the autowallahs and small businesses being displaced? Involving citizens is key. Let's hope they also preserve the city's green cover and lakes. Bengaluru was once a garden city after all. 🌳
Interesting. Reminds me of the conversations about smart cities back in 2015. Let's see if this economic master plan actually addresses congestion hotspots like Silk Board junction. The Rs 2 lakh crore plan sounds huge, but implementation is always the challenge. Hope they focus on public transport infrastructure along with creating new employment hubs to reduce commuting
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.