Former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda has intensified his criticism of the Karnataka government for its reported decision to give 1,453 residential sites to those who lost their land for the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP), known as the NICE project.
Gowda has written an open letter to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, questioning the Cabinet decision and saying that it might be inconsistent with the court’s decision and the government’s position on the project. As such, the NICE project has once again come to the political forefront.
Based on reports, the state Cabinet recently directed Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Limited (NICEL) to allot 1,453 sites to eligible land losers. The plan will contain sites of different dimensions depending on the extent of land given up by beneficiaries. The government’s decision has been welcomed as a compensation-related measure, but Gowda has questioned its legal basis and implementation.
Gowda Questions Cabinet Decision
In his open letter to Shivakumar, Gowda referred to the 1997 Framework Agreement (FWA) associated with the BMICP project and cited previous proceedings before the High Court and Supreme Court.
Gowda has said that the proposed allotment raises questions about whether residential layouts can be created on land acquired or earmarked for roads, interchanges, and related infrastructure. He has also questioned whether the latest Cabinet decision is consistent with positions taken by the state government before the courts.
The former prime minister has alleged that the government is relying on judicial orders to justify the decision while earlier government submissions had taken a different position on the construction of sites on certain categories of BMICP land. These claims are part of Gowda's criticism of the decision and have not been independently established as findings against the government.
'Who Is Responsible?'
Gowda told reporters at the JD(S) office in Bengaluru that he had drafted the open letter on the basis of the previous High Court and Supreme Court proceedings. He also said that several political leaders had played a role in the long-running NICE controversy.
Gowda asked why the government had approved the site allotment despite what he described as previous legal and administrative objections. He said the issue should be investigated transparently and that the public needed clarity about the basis for the Cabinet's decision.
The dispute is particularly significant because the NICE project has been a matter of political and legal controversy for many years, involving land acquisition, compensation, infrastructure development, toll collection, and implementation of the original project agreement.
Toll Collection Also Under Scrutiny
Gowda also raised questions about toll collection on the NICE road. He claimed that substantial amounts were being collected daily and called for an investigation into the tolling arrangements.
He said there were prior legislative discussions and committee proceedings concerning alleged irregularities in toll collection. Gowda said the matter must be properly examined instead of being a political matter.
But these allegations are Gowda's claims and should not be treated as well-established findings without official investigations or judicial determinations.
Questions Over Land Use
Another major concern raised by Gowda is about the alleged change in the intended use of land acquired for the BMICP project.
He said the original aim of the project was to develop parallel infrastructure and reduce traffic pressure on Bengaluru and Mysuru. Gowda said using project-related land for residential development could undermine those objectives.
He also asked whether the beneficiaries of the site allocation would be the real land losers or whether the project company and its investors would benefit. Gowda asked the government to give clear answers on the ownership, development, and approval process as regards the sites.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has written an open letter to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, questioning the state Cabinet's reported decision to allot 1,453 sites to land losers under the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP) pic.twitter.com/PYbMWKaYtz
— IANS (@ians_india) September 7, 2026
Government Decision Sparks Fresh Political Debate
Bengaluru, Karnataka: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo, H. D. Deve Gowda says, "This project was initiated by me in 1996... I signed the MOU with this consortium. NICEL was not a party. NICE, Bharat Forge, and another foreign company, Vanir, were part of the consortium.… pic.twitter.com/SVMfY7VdPI
— IANS (@ians_india) September 7, 2026
The latest spat comes at the same time as a long-standing political dispute with the NICE project. The project has been a topic of discussion for the last few decades in Karnataka, with political parties over land acquisition and implementation of the original agreement in relation to the project land.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has previously defended infrastructure projects and has criticized opposition parties for their positions regarding development issues. In August, Shivakumar claimed that the NICE project had been established by previous governments of JD(S) and that the road had indeed benefited Bengaluru.
The latest exchange between Gowda and the Karnataka government is therefore likely to add another chapter to the long-running NICE controversy.
The legal and administrative basis for allotting the reported 1,453 sites, particularly in areas connected to the BMICP project, for now remains important. Gowda has sought answers from the Chief Minister, and any further clarification on the legal basis of the Cabinet decision will be closely watched.
