Bengaluru: One more site within NPKL back on the cards for skydeck

One more land parcel within Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) has come back into consideration for building the 250-m-high skydeck, a project championed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. However, the finalised 30-acre land near Kommaghatta, off NICE Road, is still an option. However, that land parcel is stuck in acquisition issues.

The newly identified land parcel, spanning 45 acres, is located between Challaghatta and Bheemanakuppe within NPKL on the western fringes of Bengaluru, according to reliable BDA sources. It is about 6 km from Kommaghatta, the other site under consideration. Both sites have emerged as feasible for building the skydeck.

BDA Commissioner P. Manivannan confirmed the development to The Hindu and said that both options have been kept open to assess the better prospect.

A well-placed BDA source told The Hindu that most of the newly identified land falls under BDA jurisdiction, so acquisition will not be an issue. In contrast, parts of the Kommaghatta land fall under the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), which could pose acquisition challenges.

Connectivity also works better for the newly identified land, as it is located a few kilometres from the Challaghatta Metro Station. In addition, NICE Road is accessible from both options, as they are located close to the stretch—Kommaghatta lies to the east of NICE Road, while the new site is to the west.

“The DCM has inspected both sites. We are working on cost estimates for building the skydeck at each location, which will give us a clear picture,” the BDA source said. The final decision will be taken based on cost, connectivity, and convenience.

The Cabinet approved the construction of the skydeck at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore last year, citing the value it would add to tourism. Initially entrusted to B-SMILE, the project was later shifted to the BDA to reduce the workload on the Special Purpose Vehicle. Earlier, the government had expressed interest in three sites near Baiyappanahalli, Hemmigepura, and Jnanabharathi, but these were dropped due to non-feasibility.