Cash-starved Palike eyes IT hub for additional revenue

With its eyes firmly set on massive revenue from the IT sector, the cash-strapped Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) now wants the Electronic City to be under its jurisdiction.

As the first step, the BBMP Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution to bring three stages of the IT hub under its limits.

The three stages of the Electronic City comprise Konappana Agrahara, Dodda Thoguru, Gollahalli, Balaji Layout, Shikaripalya, Neeladrinagar, Bettadasapura, Hulimangala, Govinda Shettypalya, Krishna Reddy Layout, Neo Town, Shanthipura, Veerasandra Industrial Area and areas around Veerasandra village. The list was revealed by ruling party leader N Nagaraju, who read out the resolution.

“We request the Commissioner to initiate measures to forward the resolution to the State government and bring these villages, which form Electronic City First Stage, Second Stage and Third Stage, in the BBMP limits,” Nagaraju said.

The Council decided to take up the matter with the government after Yediyur corporator N R Ramesh pointed out that the Palike could generate at least Rs 300 crore revenue annually from the Electronic City.

He said the civic body was compelled to spend on infrastructure around the Electronic City although it did not come under its jurisdiction.

Going into the history of the Electronic City, Ramesh said KEONICS had carved it out on 440 acres of land way back in 70s and 80s.

The area now housed 187 major IT companies, 25 residential apartments, 26 international education institutions and three star hotels, while many other shopping malls, mini townships and gated communities are coming up there.

He alleged that the IT czars were avoiding inclusion of the Electronic City within the Palike limits to avoid paying property tax.

Ramesh was supported by opposition leader M K Gunashekar who demanded that the Bengaluru International Airport too be brought within the Palike’s limit.