Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, 5 October 2026, announced that the state government is preparing a comprehensive 10-to-15-year development plan for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region (BMR), covering transportation, housing, water supply, and industrial expansion under the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA). The announcement came at an advisory committee meeting on BMR's economic development held at the Chief Minister's official residence.

Economic targets driving the blueprint

Shivakumar framed the long-term plan within Karnataka's broader economic ambitions. The state has set a target of scaling its economy to $1 trillion by 2047, with an interim goal of reaching $400–420 billion by 2037. 'In line with this objective, plans are being prepared for smooth transportation, housing and industrial development in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region,' the Chief Minister said.

Notably, this is one of the most detailed long-term urban planning exercises undertaken for Bengaluru, a city that has grown faster than its civic infrastructure for decades — a pattern that has repeatedly strained roads, water systems, and housing stock.

Industrial townships and AI city

The government plans to establish nine new integrated industrial townships within the BMR to drive industrial growth and employment. Of the land required, 7,900 acres have already been acquired, while the acquisition process for an additional 5,600 acres is under way.

Shivakumar also reaffirmed the state's plans to develop an AI City in the Bengaluru region, directing officials to model it on Punggol in Singapore. An AI university is also proposed as part of this cluster, and officials were directed to identify suitable land for the institution.

Transport expansion: Metro, RRTS, and circular road

The transportation component of the plan is the most expansive. The government intends to expand Bengaluru's Metro network by an additional 312 km by 2037, alongside a proposed 72-km suburban rail network to link the city with its surrounding areas.

A 210-km circular road connecting 10 major hubs around Bengaluru is also under discussion, as is a 270-km Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor covering the Bengaluru-Tumakuru, Bengaluru-Mysuru, and Bengaluru-KGF corridors. Officials additionally discussed connecting Phase 2 of the Peripheral Ring Road with the NICE Road to ease traffic congestion. Suggestions were made to extend the proposed Mumbai-Bengaluru high-speed rail corridor up to Mysuru.

Water supply, housing, and civic infrastructure

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the entire Bengaluru Urban district would be brought under the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in a phased manner. 'This will enable the systematic development of water distribution capacity and sewerage infrastructure across the district,' Byre Gowda said. The BMR is projected to require around 3,600 million litres per day (MLD) of water by 2037, and long-term strategy will include reuse of treated wastewater and lake restoration.

On housing, the government has prepared a plan to construct 6 lakh to 6.5 lakh housing units to address the growing population's needs. Of these, 40,000 to 50,000 units are earmarked for industrial workers. All areas of Bengaluru Urban district are also to be brought under urban local body jurisdiction to ensure planned development and better civic service delivery.

What comes next

Officials were directed to formulate detailed sectoral plans aligned with the advisory committee's inputs. The government is positioning Bengaluru's long-term infrastructure build-out as integral to Karnataka reaching its $1 trillion economy target by 2047. Execution timelines and funding structures for the various components are expected to be detailed in subsequent planning stages.