Karnataka clears 153-acre Basavanna Biodiversity Park, North Bengaluru to get major green boost

The State Cabinet has approved a ₹50-crore biodiversity park near Yelahanka, set to become Bengaluru’s third-largest urban green space after Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.

In a significant move to expand Bengaluru’s shrinking green cover, the Karnataka State Cabinet has approved the development of a massive 153-acre biodiversity park at Madappanahalli near Yelahanka. The project has been officially named the Vishwa Guru Basavanna Biodiversity Park.

Once completed, the park will emerge as the third-largest urban lung space in the city, after Lalbagh and Cubbon Park. The government has sanctioned an initial allocation of ₹50 crore and has directed officials to complete the project within three years, keeping in mind the fast-growing population of North Bengaluru.

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The park is strategically located close to the upcoming Dr. Shivaram Karanth Layout, an area expected to house nearly two lakh residents in the coming years. Officials believe the new green space will play a crucial role in improving air quality and providing recreational relief to residents in this rapidly developing corridor.

For Bengaluru, this marks a historic moment. The city has not witnessed the creation of a park of this scale in over a century. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the project directly addresses the acute shortage of green spaces in North Bengaluru and will serve as a much-needed ecological buffer.

The land earmarked for the park was recently transferred to the Forest Department from the Karnataka Forest Development Corporation (KFDC), which had earlier maintained eucalyptus plantations in the area. As part of ecological restoration, these non-native trees will be removed and replaced with indigenous species, including plants native to the Western Ghats. The move is aimed at restoring natural biodiversity and strengthening the local ecosystem.

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Beyond being a green lung, the biodiversity park is planned as a multi-use conservation and education space. Proposed features include a medicinal plants zone, a bird sanctuary named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and a mini-zoo dedicated to Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. By combining environmental conservation with public engagement, the government hopes to revive Bengaluru’s long-held reputation as the “Garden City” while creating a sustainable green legacy for future generations.