India's First 'AI City' Near Bengaluru Hits Hurdle: Why Farmers Are Opposing The Bidadi Township
India's First 'AI City' Near Bengaluru Hits Hurdle: Why Farmers Are Opposing The Bidadi Township Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 19:45 IST India's
India's First 'AI City' Near Bengaluru Hits Hurdle: Why Farmers Are Opposing The Bidadi Township Published By, Last Updated: July 15, 2026, 19:45 IST India's first AI-powered city near Bengaluru faces farmer protests over land acquisition. Here's why the Bidadi Township project has become a political flashpoint. The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township, better known as Bidadi Township, is billed as India's first AI-powered city. (PTI video screengrab) The Karnataka government’s ambitious plan to build India’s first “AI-powered city" near Bengaluru has hit a major roadblock, with farmers protesting against the acquisition of agricultural land and opposition parties turning the issue into a political flashpoint. The proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT), planned at Bidadi, around 40 km from Bengaluru, is being pitched as a futuristic urban hub that will leverage artificial intelligence and smart technologies while easing pressure on the rapidly expanding state capital. But for hundreds of farming families in the region, the project has become a battle over land, livelihoods and consent. What Is The Proposed AI-Powered City In Bidadi? The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) is a large-scale urban development project planned across Bidadi and Harohalli on Bengaluru’s outskirts. Spread over nearly 9,600 acres, the township is envisioned as a technology-driven city featuring advanced infrastructure, smart urban planning and AI-enabled governance systems. The state government has described it as India’s first “AI-powered city", where artificial intelligence would be integrated into urban management, mobility, public services and infrastructure planning. The project is also expected to support Bengaluru’s growing population by creating new residential, commercial and industrial zones beyond the city’s increasingly congested core. Among the features proposed for the township are AI-powered residential and industrial districts, zero-traffic mobility corridors, smart public infrastructure, world-class schools and hospitals, employment opportunities for local communities, and integrated urban services powered by digital technologies. The first phase of the project involves the acquisition of around 500 acres, while the broader township is expected to require between 7,400 and 7,500 acres of land. How Did The Project Begin? The township project is not entirely new. Originally conceived in 2006 as the Bidadi Integrated Township, it was proposed by then Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy as a solution to Bengaluru’s growing housing and infrastructure needs.
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