USD 400-billion economy, 25 lakh jobs: Karnataka's mega Bengaluru master plan takes shape

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reviewed a draft economic master plan for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region on Wednesday. The roadmap aims to expand jobs, infrastructure and liveability while building a USD 400-billion economy by 2037.

In Short

• CM DK Shivakumar reviews master plan for Bengaluru development
• Aims for USD 400 billion economy and 2-2.5 million jobs by 2037
• Plan focuses on IT, deep-tech manufacturing, healthcare, education, tourism

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday reviewed a draft Economic Master Plan for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region (BMR), which aims to turn it into a major growth hub with a USD 400-billion economy and 2-2.5 million jobs by 2037, officials said.

The plan, prepared in collaboration with the Karnataka government with the ISEG Foundation as knowledge partner, sets out a roadmap for growth through private investment, infrastructure expansion, sustainability and planned urbanisation. Its recommendations will now be discussed with stakeholder departments before an actionable plan is finalised, according to officials.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, the BMR, as defined in the report, is currently a USD 149-billion economy and the plan seeks to more than double this by 2037.

Spread across three districts, the region has a population of around 16 million and contributes about 40 per cent of Karnataka's Gross State Domestic Product, while accounting for a quarter of the state's population. Its per capita income is nearly twice the state average, the statement said.

The Economic Master Plan is based on cross-cutting principles such as catalysing private investment at scale, systematically leveraging land value to fund development, and making inclusivity and sustainability integral to growth. It has identified five priority growth drivers to meet the 2037 target.

The first priority is to establish the BMR as a global hub for IT, Global Capability Centres, artificial intelligence and technology start-ups, with dedicated IT and GCC hubs, deep-tech sandboxes and a dedicated AI mission.

The second is to position the region as a global deep-tech manufacturing hub across seven priority sectors, led by aerospace and defence, electronics, automotive, and biopharma and medical devices. The third is to make the BMR a leader in tertiary healthcare, higher education and high-end tourism.

The fourth priority focuses on infrastructure and sustainability. The plan proposes raising the share of public transport from 35 per cent to 75 per cent through the expansion of metro, suburban rail and Regional Rapid Transit System corridors. It also envisages a second airport, stronger ring, radial and chord roads, and a network of multi-modal transport hubs.

On water, the proposals include increasing supply, expanding reuse of treated water and optimising the distribution network to bridge the projected demand-supply gap.

The fifth priority centres on planned urbanisation, housing and liveability, including international-standard planned cities, services-led business districts, integrated private townships and transit-oriented development.

It also proposes affordable housing and shared rental accommodation for industrial, gig and service workers, along with a slum rehabilitation programme aimed at making the BMR slum-free, officials said.

Officials said the draft plan will now be taken up with stakeholder departments for further discussions. Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda and Priyank Kharge, the Chief Minister's Political Secretary AS Ponnanna, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Girinath were also present at the meeting.

The review focused on a long-term roadmap to expand the BMR's economy, create jobs and improve infrastructure and liveability by 2037.

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