Bengaluru satellite cities: KWIN & SWIFT to ease overpopulation | Details
The Karnataka government is developing two satellite cities, KWIN City and SWIFT City, near Bengaluru to alleviate the city's overpopulation and urban sprawl. Both aim to provide world-class infrastructure, attract global talent, and create sustainable urban environments.
Bengaluru satellite cities: KWIN & SWIFT to ease overpopulation | Details
Bengaluru: The IT capital of India, Bengaluru, is a major technology hub that attracts individuals from all over the country. Its countless opportunities and future prospects have earned it the title of the Silicon Valley of India. However, this growth has brought several challenges. The city is grappling with issues stemming from overpopulation and urban sprawl. In response, the Karnataka Government is planning to develop satellite cities near Bengaluru to alleviate some of the pressure on the city.
The two new cities, K-WIN and SWIFT, are proposed by the state government. These would be established on both sides of Bengaluru, which would provide well-planned and world-class facilities with residential clusters and educational institutions. These satellite townships are expected to divert some of the population and development from the main city, preventing further congestion in it.
KWIN City: Area, location, and completion
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the plan for the development of Knowledge, Wellbeing and Innovation (KWIN) City at Vidhana Soudha on September 26, 2024. It will be a 5,800-acre township situated between Dabaspet and Doddaballapur, 60 km north-west of Bengaluru. The site also has good connectivity both on land and airways. It is just an hour away from the Kempegowda International Airport. The city was earlier named KHIR (Knowledge, Health, Innovation, and Research) City, but later changed to KWIN. As per a report by The Hindu, in the first phase of the project, 2,000 acres of land would be developed in the next three years.
Focus Areas
KWIN City is intended to provide a smart and sustainable ecosystem which would attract global talent and boost entrepreneurship and economic growth. It is designed to accommodate around 5 lakh residents. During the launch Chief Minister said, "KWIN City would serve as an engine for growth, fostering cutting-edge research, nurturing talent, and creating opportunities across sectors like healthcare, biotechnology, AI, and advanced manufacturing.”
"By bringing together leading institutions, research centres, and industry partners, we aim to drive cutting-edge research, develop ground-breaking technologies, and create solutions that address global challenges. The city’s focus on healthcare would lead to advancements in medical research, thedevelopment of novel therapies, and improved access to quality healthcare for all,” he further added.
Sustainable development
The city would meet a large amount of its electricity needs through solar power from farms spanning 465 acres, which would generate 0.69 million MWh. Apart from this, the city would manage to get 50 per cent of its required water supply through a rainwater harvesting system. This would ensure sustainability and self-sufficiency.
SWIFT City
On December 14, MB Patil, Large and Medium Industries Minister, proposed the plan for the development of SWIFT City at Sarjapur in Bengaluru. Over 1,000 acres of land would be reserved for the Start-ups, Workspaces, Innovation, Finance, and Technology (SWIFT) City. Located in the southeast of Bengaluru, the site is close to the IT hub and is well connected to the National Highways 44 and 48.
The minister stated that the city would have a 150-metre-wide connecting road in Sarjapur and would provide a world-class workspace. The city will also have state-of-the-art offices, co-working spaces, residential blocks and schools. In an announcement, the minister said, "The envisioned city aims to become a start-up hotspot, featuring 8-10 plug-and-play infrastructure facilities, each spanning 20-25 acres.”
Features of SWIFT City
The minister shared multiple features of the city on social media. He stated that the new city would give a big boost to employment by creating thousands of jobs. He added that it will have 8 to 10 Plug-and-Play facilities (easily available and functional workspaces that minimise setup time and costs), each spanning 20-25 acres. Land parcels from 5,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. for startups through lease, sale, or equity-sharing models.
In a post on X, Patil shared six points about the Swift city, "(1) Spanning 1,000 acres, close to IT hubs with excellent connectivity to NH 44 and NH 48. (2) A big boost to employment: Creating thousands of jobs- 8 to 10 Plug-and-Play facilities (20–25 acres each). (3) 150m wide connecting roads, state-of-the-art offices, co-working spaces, residential blocks & schools. (4) Land parcels from 5,000 to 20,000 sqft for startups through lease, sale, or equity-sharing models. (5) Expand Bengaluru's success statewide with 5 Mini KWIN Cities, including Vijayapura & Hubballi-Dharwad.”
The minister also stated that plans are underway to develop five Mini KWIN Cities across the region, including in Vijayapura and Hubballi-Dharwad. This would be the state’s third major planned industrial hub apart from Electronic City and ITPL (International Tech Park).