Kumaraswamy, who released a set of official documents at a press conference, alleged that changes made to the project when Shivakumar was urban development minister increased the land requirement for the road component and created opportunities for private interests.
The allegations relate to the NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises) project, which operates a 41-km peripheral road and an 8-km link road connecting Tumakuru Road with Hosur Road through the Mysuru and Kanakapura corridors and collects tolls from users.
Kumaraswamy said the original framework agreement, signed in 1997 with a consortium of investors, capped the total land requirement at 20,193 acres. The project envisaged private investment, with the developer recovering its expenditure through project revenues, including toll collections.
He alleged that the project was subsequently altered after the original consortium and foreign investors exited. According to Kumaraswamy, the land earmarked for the toll road increased from 6,999 acres under the original framework to 9,468.86 acres under a revised outline development plan.
Kumaraswamy alleged that Shivakumar, who was then associated with the Bangalore-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Planning Authority (BMICPA), was involved in changes that increased the land requirement. He also questioned the 2002 tripartite agreement involving NICE, NHAI and the Karnataka government, alleging that it deviated from the original framework.
Kumaraswamy termed the agreement a “deliberate fraud” and alleged that it was used to facilitate private interests.He also raised questions over land acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) in 2004. Kumaraswamy alleged that some of the notified land was later purchased by Shivakumar’s brother, DK Suresh, and other family members, including their mother, Gowramma.
He claimed that about 10 acres acquired in their names was government land at the time and questioned how the transactions were permitted.
Kumaraswamy also sought details of the owners of about 300 acres in the BM Kaval area of south Bengaluru, alleging that the land included gomala (grazing) land and that land records had been altered and portions converted under pressure.
He said the BMIC project had also affected land belonging to Siddaganga Mutt.
Kumaraswamy further alleged that Shivakumar had used his position to benefit a joint-venture real estate project involving his brother, Suresh. He said the project, involving about 1,040 units, resulted in a share of the units going to the former Congress MP.
He put the value of the alleged benefit at about Rs 2,000 crore based on prevailing property prices and questioned whether the land was required for the BMIC project.
Kumaraswamy also opposed plans to extend the NICE project towards Mysuru, questioning the need for further expansion when the Bengaluru-Mysuru national highway is already operational.
