'Greater Bengaluru': D K Shivakumar announces multi-storey parking lots near court complexes

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday announced plans to build multi-storey parking facilities near court complexes in Bengaluru. 

Speaking at a Kempegowda Jayanti programme organised by the Advocates' Association Bengaluru (AAB), he spoke about the government’s efforts to carry forward Kempegowda’s legacy by positioning Bengaluru on the global map.

He credited the city’s success to four key personalities — Kempegowda for founding Bengaluru, Kengal Hanumanthaiah for constructing the Vidhana Soudha, Kuvempu for his literary contributions, and SM Krishna for internationalising the city’s image. 

Shivakumar unveiled the government’s vision for a 'Greater Bengaluru', aimed at tackling challenges posed by the city’s growing population, currently estimated at 1.4 crore. 

He acknowledged that while the ring road system eased traffic to some extent, key junctions such as KR Puram, Hebbal, Goraguntepalya and Electronics City remain bottlenecked. 

To address this issue, he announced a Rs 1-lakh crore infrastructure plan over the next five years, which includes the construction of double-decker flyovers, 40 km of tunnel roads, and a new 123-km elevated corridor to ease traffic congestion. Additional initiatives include strict action against the city’s garbage mafia and enhanced waste management systems. 

Shivakumar pledged Rs 5 crore to the AAB to improve infrastructure and promised four to 10 acres of land for the development of new law institutions. He also agreed to support the installation of a solar power plant at the City Civil Court complex. 

He announced plans to build a new engineering college — the Global Academy of Engineering — in tribute to his father’s aspirations. 

Professor Krishne Gowda, Kannada actor Prema, and AAB president Vivek Subba Reddy were also present at the event.