Bengaluru: For the first time in 58 years, Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) has agreed to relocate its racecourse from city centre, signalling the end of a long-running dispute with the state govt over the prime land parcel. The cabinet Thursday approved leasing 110 acres and 20 guntas at Kunigal Stud Farm near Tumakuru to BTC for 29 years to conduct horse races, paving the way for the club’s exit from its current premises near Vidhana Soudha. “We are extremely happy with the cabinet decision and are preparing to move out. We will soon file a compromise petition before the Supreme Court, where a case is pending,” said Manjunath Ramesh, chairman of BTC’s racing sub-committee. His stand is significant considering BTC has a history of rejecting cabinet decisions. “The only concern is that we will have to pay an annual lease amount equivalent to 2.5% of the land’s guidance value. We have decided to formally request the govt to reconsider this clause and lower the lease,” Ramesh said. Besides the annual lease, BTC must also clear pending rent dues and deposit 2% of its annual income from 2010 onwards with the public works department (PWD) until it vacates the premises. The govt will provide “minimum time” for the club to relocate, and a govt order detailing the specifics will be issued. Law minister HK Patil said the penalty was imposed because rents were not revised since 2010 due to a legal dispute, resulting in losses to the state exchequer. Of the 83 acres and 14 guntas which BTC currently occupies on Racecourse Road, the club will retain its heritage office building and four acres of surrounding land. “The remainder will be used to develop a lung space in the city,” officials said, reiterating the govt’s position that the prime land should be used as a lung space or new govt facilities. The decision follows escalating tensions in 2024, when the govt refused to renew BTC’s racing licence, an order later stayed by the high court. In Oct last year, the govt sought the immediate shifting of the racecourse, warning that licences would not be issued if the club failed to comply.BTC’s current premises, originally granted by the Maharaja of Mysore, has long been coveted. The first attempt to shift the racecourse was in 1968, when chief minister Nijalingappa formed a sub-committee under finance minister BD Jatti, who offered land at Jakkur Flying Club. In 1983, chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde proposed land near Jakkur tank bed, which BTC rejected, citing low-lying terrain. Subsequent govt’s made repeated attempts, including plans for a 100-storey tower and later a major lung space, but faced stiff opposition from BTC often leading to long drawn legal battles. The push gathered momentum in 2000 under chief minister SM Krishna, who earmarked land at Yelahanka lake, though the plan collapsed when his govt fell. In 2008, the BJP govt led by BS Yediyurappa set an 18-month deadline for BTC to shift to Chikkajala-Doddajala, but the again led to a prolonged legal battle that stalled relocation efforts. With BTC now agreeing to the Kunigal proposal, the relocation marks the culmination of nearly six decades of attempts to move the racecourse from Bengaluru’s core.
