DK Shivakumar proposes vertical development for Bengaluru to manage rapid urban growth

On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the state government is considering "vertical development" for Bengaluru to manage its rapid population growth. Speaking during the Kempe Gowda Jayanti celebrations across the city—with events at Yelahanka, Kempegowda International Airport, and the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout—Shivakumar stated that upward expansion has become inevitable as more people migrate to the city for education, healthcare, and employment.

Shivakumar began the day's celebrations by paying tribute at the 108-foot bronze statue of Kempe Gowda near the Kempegowda International Airport. He later paid floral tributes to the city founder's statue at Yelahanka, where he emphasized that Bengaluru's continuous expansion requires a shift toward vertical growth.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister visited the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. There, he inaugurated a 15-lakh sapling planting drive organized by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and opened the newly renamed S.M. Krishna Road, which was previously known as the Major Arterial Road.

Addressing the city's infrastructure challenges, Shivakumar noted that Bengaluru now has a population of 1.40 crore and nearly 1.30 crore vehicles. To address this, he highlighted that the state government has drawn up infrastructure projects worth ₹1.25 lakh crore.

Among the transport initiatives, Shivakumar announced that the government is working to provide Metro connectivity to the airport within the next year. He added that the state plans to expand the Metro network to 500 kilometres over the next two years, with Minister Krishna Byre Gowda working on this vision.

The Chief Minister also outlined plans to promote the legacy of Bengaluru's founder. He instructed airport authorities to develop facilities around the Trumpet interchange near the international airport to showcase Kempe Gowda's contributions. Additionally, the government has initiated the acquisition of 10 acres of land near Kempe Gowda’s samadhi at Magadi and is undertaking a ₹100-crore comprehensive development of the Kempegowda Fort.