'No Changes To Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor': Karnataka Govt Cites Supreme Court Mandate

Last Updated:December 19, 2025, 12:23 IST

Shivakumar addressed concerns regarding the project's relevance and the long-standing hurdles faced by local landowners and developers.

DK Shivakumar responds to questions on Bengaluru-Mysuru infrastructure corridor.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar confirmed on Thursday that the Karnataka government cannot discontinue or alter the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, popularly known as the NICE Road, due to binding orders from the Supreme Court.

Speaking during Question Hour in the Legislative Council, Shivakumar addressed concerns regarding the project’s relevance and the long-standing hurdles faced by local landowners and developers.

Responding to a query from Congress MLC Madhu Made Gowda, who questioned the necessity of the project following the completion of the new National Highway 75 (Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway), the Deputy Chief Minister emphasised that the state’s hands are tied.

“The BMIC project was approved in 1995 during HD Deve Gowda’s tenure as Chief Minister. While it was envisioned as a national role model, it unfortunately remains incomplete," Shivakumar said. “A three-member bench of the Supreme Court has ordered the project to be completed in its original form. Therefore, the government cannot make any unilateral changes or discontinue it."

While the project alignment remains fixed, the Deputy Chief Minister announced measures to ease administrative bottlenecks for those living or owning land in the project area.

To address the “deadlock" on land usage, Shivakumar stated that the government has empowered local planning authorities to oversee development. Provision for online land conversion has been established to streamline the process.

Local planning authorities now have the mandate to approve maps and sanction plans, providing relief to residents who have faced years of uncertainty.

Shivakumar acknowledged that local representatives, including MLA Uday, have repeatedly raised grievances regarding the project’s impact on residents.

To manage these issues, the government has active oversight mechanisms in place. “There is a committee led by the Chief Secretary and a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Home Minister G Parameshwara. While we cannot change the project’s scope, we are committed to resolving local issues and grievances," he added.

The BMIC project, managed by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), has been mired in legal battles and political controversy for nearly three decades. Today’s statement clarifies that despite the existence of a new high-speed expressway between the two cities, the state intends to honour the original framework as mandated by the apex court.

The Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) is a multi-billion dollar private highway project designed to connect Karnataka’s two largest cities. Conceptualised in the mid-1990s and executed by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), the project was designed to be more than just a road; it includes a 111-km four-lane expressway, several townships, and industrial hubs along the route. While sections of the peripheral road around Bengaluru are currently operational, the full project has been stalled for decades due to intensive legal battles over land acquisition, compensation disputes, and political controversies.

News india 'No Changes To Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor': Karnataka Govt Cites Supreme Court Mandate

Read More