Bengaluru, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday called on motorists to stop paying toll on Bengaluru’s NICE Road, alleging large-scale irregularities in the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project and claiming that toll collection was continuing without proper approval.
Addressing a press conference at the JD(S) headquarters, J.P. Bhavan, Kumaraswamy demanded that the Karnataka government take over the entire NICE project and immediately halt toll collection. He gave the government two weeks to act, warning that the JD(S) would launch an agitation if no action was taken.
Kumaraswamy cited observations in the Karnataka High Court’s July 29 judgment on alleged irregularities in the BMIC project. He said the court had described the project as potentially one of the biggest scams in Karnataka and had indicated the need for an independent investigation by a specialised team and a forensic audit of its accounts.
He alleged that NICE had violated provisions of the framework agreement governing the project and questioned the continued toll collection. Kumaraswamy also claimed that toll rates had been revised several times without prior approval from the state government, which he said had itself informed the court about the issue.
The JD(S) leader raised concerns over more than 20,000 acres allegedly accumulated as a land bank for the project, saying thousands of farmers had faced hardship. He claimed that some farmers who surrendered their land nearly two decades ago were yet to receive compensation and alleged that acquired land was subsequently dealt with or sold to private parties.
Kumaraswamy also questioned an alleged No Objection Certificate issued by NICE to a developer for construction near NICE Junction at Hosakerehalli. He sought clarification on the ownership and subsequent use of the land and asked who had benefited from such transactions.
He further referred to recommendations of a House committee headed by senior Congress MLA T.B. Jayachandra, claiming that it had favoured government takeover of the NICE project, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities, and recovery of land under NICE’s control for return to farmers.
Kumaraswamy alleged that around 550 acres of additional land had been provided to NICE even as the company claimed it had not received the land. He also claimed that some farmers affected by the project had not received compensation from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB).
Recalling his tenure as Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy said he had raised the NICE issue in the Legislative Assembly in 2006 and that the Cabinet had decided to cancel the project. He said he could not implement the decision due to a lack of necessary support.
Appealing to motorists, farmers and youngsters to join the proposed movement, Kumaraswamy said he would write to the state government seeking immediate intervention and would decide the next course of action after waiting for its response.
He also criticised Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda over the government’s handling of the issue, questioning why action was being taken against street vendors while, according to him, alleged large-scale land irregularities linked to NICE remained unaddressed.
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