BENGALURU: The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has proposed a substantial 772-acre housing development near the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Devanahalli, in response to the growing residential demand stemming from rapid urbanization and industrial expansion in the area.
KHB plans to provide residential plots and affordable housing, particularly targeting economically disadvantaged groups, along with essential infrastructure like roads, water supply, and sanitation services.
However, the future of this initiative remains uncertain, following the government’s recent cancellation of the acquisition of 1,777 acres due to farmers’ protests over the loss of fertile farmland.
Officials reported that KHB aims to acquire land in five villages: Vishwanathapura, Vajarahalli, Beerasandra, Shanappanahalli, and Managondanahalli, situated in Kundana hobli of Devanahalli taluk. According to documents obtained by TOI, KHB plans to acquire 410 acres and 13 guntas in Vishwanathapura, 42 acres and 20 guntas in Vajarahalli, 59 acres and 22 guntas in Beerasandra, 83 acres and 23 guntas in Shanappanahalli, and 177 acres and 12 guntas in Managondanahalli. A land acquisition notification from KHB is expected soon.
Dayananda KA, housing commissioner at KHB, stated that the project would proceed only after gaining public approval. “We will implement the project based on a 50-50 formula,” he noted, explaining that landowners would receive half of the developed land instead of financial compensation.
C. Chandregowda, a local resident, highlighted that these villages are situated along the Satellite Town Ring Road connecting Devanahalli and Doddaballapur, adjacent to the ITIR, where Foxconn has announced a 300-acre iPhone manufacturing facility. He mentioned that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board has already developed over 2,000 acres for ITIR and is enhancing the nearby Obadenahalli industrial area.
“The demand for residential plots in the region has surged dramatically, with several prestigious educational institutions, including private universities, establishing campuses close to the ITIR,” he elaborated. “Plots that were available for Rs 1,500 per square foot before Foxconn’s manufacturing unit launched have now soared to Rs 6,000 due to the amenities on offer.”
Another resident, Manjunath J, expressed that although KHB’s project could benefit low-income families seeking affordable housing, it could adversely affect farmers who would lose their fertile land.
