According to officials, the Bangalore Metro Regional Development Authority (BMRDA) Act will be applicable only for the Bidadi Master Plan while the Ramanagara-Chennapatna has been approved under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. “Earlier there was a proposal to create nearly five integrated townships. Later, we had the Bidadi township under the BMRDA Act, the remaining four were to be created under the KTCP Act,” informed the official.
The BMRDA master plan that was awaiting the government approval has now finally opened the gates for developmental works to begin in the two regions. Currently, of the 462 sq km that is under the BMRDA jurisdiction for development, only 2 sq km has been used by the authorities for urbanisation. “We are right now releasing only 2,500 hectares that is fit for urbanisation of the total land available for the Bidadi township,” said the official.
The remaining 460 sq km is being kept in reserve. As and when it is required, the land will be released for urbanisation. The Channapatna-Ramanagara master plan has around 8,000 hectares to be released for the proposed township in a radius of 63 sq km.
The integrated townships have been planned as per the population estimates in lieu of the proximity to Bangalore. While the Bidadi township has been identified to grow from the existing 40,000 people to 2.5 lakh in population, the Ramanagara-Channapatna region is projected to house as many 5.5 lakh people by 2021. The order will now allow developmental activities in as many as 111 villages in Bidadi and 26 villages in Ramanagara and Channapatna.
DLF withdrawal
The approval comes in the light of DLF, one of India’s leading construction companies, having withdrawn just a few months ago from the proposed township. While DLF had intended to develop all the five integrated townships proposed by the government two years ago, the construction company decided to back out due to the bad sentiments prevailing in the real estate market in May 2009. “The agreement with DLF to develop the Bidadi township is still very much intact. But its decision to withdraw may see the government call for a fresh tender for the development of the townships,” said the official.
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