Karnataka Housing Board Plans 772-Acre Residential Project Near Devanahalli

Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has unveiled a large-scale project which encompasses 772 acres with plans to house the site adjacent to the proposed Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) in Devanahalli. The aim is to cater to the demand for residential space in the city, ever since industrial expansion and urbanization began at a fast pace.

The present project, officials stated, will chiefly cater to residential plots and affordable housing, laying special emphasis on the economically weaker section. Besides housing units, KHB envisaged key infrastructure facilities at the site, such as roads, water supply, and sewage, for developing a sustainable residential hub.

The area for acquisition, as per reports, ranges across five villages in Kundana hobli of Devanahalli taluk: Vishwanathapura (410 acres, 13 guntas), Vajarahalli (42 acres, 20 guntas), Beerasandra (59 acres, 22 guntas), Shanappanahalli (83 acres, 23 guntas), and Managondanahalli (177 acres, 12 guntas). A formal notification for acquisition is on the cards soon.

According to officials, the project, in the wake of being planned, accommodates the demand for urban development versus affordability, fitted to the mid-income groups and first-time homebuyers in the ever-growing North corridor of Bengaluru. With proximity to Kempegowda International Airport and other industrial projects underway, the area is expected to witness more demand.

Nevertheless, the plan could face hurdles. The larger 1,777-acre land acquisition project discarded by the government just months ago had faced intense opposition from farmers contesting the claims on fertile agricultural land. The scaled-down proposal by KHB is seen as an earnest attempt to placate concerns while keeping the spirit of housing development alive.

Urban planners note that the Devanahalli belt has emerged as a real estate hotspot over the past decade, aided by airport-driven growth and huge infrastructure announcements. If implemented, the KHB scheme could arguably become one of the largest affordable housing projects in the state in recent times, perhaps even completely changing the entire micro-market residential landscape.

With the notification fast tracking its way, various stakeholders ranging from farmers to prospective homebuyers will be closely watching the progress over the next few months.