4 builders bid to do what DLF couldn't

Four companies short-listed, one will be chosen for Bidadi township project

New Bangalore moves closer to reality. Four firms have been short-listed for the Bidadi Integrated Township project, touted as New Bangalore and proposed to come up on 9,178 acres in Bidadi, Ramanagar district, 31km off Bangalore city. Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) sources revealed that it has sent the names of GVK Group, Reliance Infrastructure, Hindustan Construction Corporation and Rajesh Exports to chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who would chose one of them to entrust the project with. According to the sources, Hindustan Construction Corporation is the frontrunner for the project. The chief minister is also the chairman of BMRDA. Buoyed up by the response to the last Global Investors' Meet, the BMRDA had issued a notification this month calling for companies to undertake the project that was proposed to de-congest Bangalore. The project, a public-private partnership, was initially awarded to DLF in 2007 when HD Kumaraswamy was the chief minister. However, the Delhi-based real estate major backed off, citing political instability in the state and global economic meltdown as reasons. "Once the CM gives his nod, the company can start land acquisitions. It will develop the township infrastructure, market and operate it too," said another official. BMRDA has identified 10 villages—Aralalasandra, Kanchugaranahalli Kaval, Kempayyanapalya, Mandalahalli, Kanchugaranahalli, Vaderahalli, Byramangala, K G Gollarapalya, Bannigiri and Hosur—for the township. Of the total area, government land contributes to 2,198 acres, while 6,336 acres are private properties.