Bengaluru, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday levelled allegations of large-scale irregularities in Karnataka’s Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), popularly known as the NICE project, claiming that the alleged scam was worth more than Rs 3 lakh crore. He also questioned the rise in the assets of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar from Rs 4 crore in 2003 to Rs 1,413 crore in 2023.
Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar and his brother, former Congress MP D.K. Suresh, of allegedly misusing legislative and executive machinery in connection with the project, claiming that their actions adversely affected farmers and facilitated large-scale irregularities.
Challenging the state government to act on the alleged wrongdoing, Kumaraswamy said Shivakumar should resign if the government lacked the courage to take action. He described the case as bigger than the 2G spectrum scam and said he would release additional documents as part of his planned disclosures.
The BMIC project, initiated in 1995 during the tenure of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy’s father, was designed to improve road connectivity between Bengaluru and Mysuru through a tolled expressway and associated townships. The project is being implemented by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE), promoted by Ashok Kheny.
Kumaraswamy alleged that the project’s original objectives were subsequently altered, leading to a major land-related controversy that harmed farmers’ interests.
Referring to the 1997 Framework Agreement, he said 6,999 acres had been earmarked for the road project. However, he alleged that in 2002, when Shivakumar was the Urban Development Minister and chairman of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Planning Authority (BMICPA), the project alignment was changed, paving the way for irregularities.
Citing documents, Kumaraswamy claimed that the land earmarked for townships was reduced without Cabinet approval, while the area allocated for the toll road was increased to 9,468 acres. He also alleged that between 10 and 12 lakes were destroyed during the process.
Kumaraswamy questioned the purchase of land by D.K. Suresh in 2004, despite it having been notified for the NICE project in 1997. He alleged that a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was later obtained from NICE for the same land before it was transferred to Shobha Developers.
He sought an explanation on how land notified for a public infrastructure project could be acquired by the brothers and under what circumstances NICE had issued the NOC.
In another allegation, Kumaraswamy claimed that seven acres belonging to Siddaganga Mutt had been acquired for the project, but only one acre was used for the road. He alleged that the remaining land was not returned despite requests to hand it back for the establishment of an orphanage.
He further claimed that NICE had issued NOCs to more than 420 people, including an individual employed as a cook at the residence of one of the persons concerned.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that NICE promoter Ashok Kheny had not invested any personal funds in the project and had instead secured bank loans by mortgaging government land. He referred to judicial observations that, according to him, had raised serious questions about the government’s handling of the project.
Calling for an investigation, Kumaraswamy urged the state government to examine the alleged irregularities and fix responsibility. He also appealed to the public not to pay toll on NICE Road, alleging that there had been an attempt to acquire and appropriate 1.25 lakh acres of land through notifications.
Kumaraswamy said he would continue pursuing the issue through a public movement and legal action, adding that further documents would be released in Parts 2 and 3 of his expose.
He also offered to participate in an open debate on the issue on the steps of Vidhana Soudha, challenging the state government to take action against the alleged irregularities. He said he would personally honour Shivakumar if such action was taken.
The allegations and documents cited by Kumaraswamy would require examination by the relevant authorities to establish the facts.
FOLLOW NOW
