Three new cities planned around Bengaluru to ease population and traffic pressure

With Bengaluru facing rising population, vehicle growth and traffic congestion, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has proposed developing three new cities on the outskirts to reduce pressure on the core city.

Bengaluru is expanding rapidly, with its population, number of vehicles and traffic congestion increasing year after year. The growing pressure on the city’s infrastructure has become a major concern for the government. To address this challenge, Bengaluru Development Minister and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has proposed the creation of three new cities around Bengaluru as a long-term solution.

Bengaluru continues to attract people from across the country and abroad due to its pleasant climate, strong work culture, diverse opportunities and better quality of life. This steady migration has added immense pressure on roads, public transport, housing and civic amenities, leading to worsening traffic congestion and urban stress.

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The government’s strategy is based on a simple calculation: if the same facilities available within Bengaluru are created in the city’s outskirts, people can be encouraged to live, work and settle there instead of moving into the core city.

As part of this plan, three new cities are proposed at Bidadi, Solur and Nandagudi, all located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. These areas are expected to be developed with essential infrastructure, employment opportunities and urban amenities, allowing residents to meet their daily needs locally.

According to estimates, Bengaluru’s population currently stands at around 1.4 crore, and the city is also home to nearly two lakh foreign passport holders. Officials believe that providing full-scale facilities outside the city can help control population density within Bengaluru, reduce daily travel into the city and cut down vehicle congestion.

The government has already rolled out multiple projects to tackle traffic, including tunnel roads, new flyovers, the Bengaluru Business Corridor and proposed double-decker roads. However, officials admit that despite these measures, traffic management remains a major challenge.

Against this backdrop, the proposal to develop new cities is seen as a structural and long-term approach to decongest Bengaluru. Whether this plan will successfully reduce traffic and population pressure remains to be seen, but it marks a significant shift in urban planning for the region.