DKS Unveils Plan for New Town Planning College

Rapid Summary

• Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar highlighted the need for professional town planners due to Bengaluru’s unsystematic growth post-Kempegowda and urban pressure from its massive population.
• Speaking at the 58th Engineers’ Day event in Bengaluru, he proposed setting up a new town planning college to address the shortage of specialists.
• Mr. Shivakumar emphasized engineers’ crucial role in city development and mentioned ongoing tunnel road projects, noting resistance to denotifying the Bengaluru Business Corridor which includes constructing a 100-km-long road.
• Karnataka has around 300 engineering colleges producing nearly one lakh engineers annually, with many serving abroad, bringing international recognition to Bengaluru’s talent pool.
• Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) felicitated 13 engineers with the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Award for contributions to urban development during Visvesvaraya Jayanti celebrations.
• GBA officials praised engineers’ dedication under pressure while recalling notable incidents like flood management in Bommanahalli in 2016.
• The legacy of Sir M. Visvesvaraya was honored at various events for his pioneering contributions.

Indian opinion Analysis

Bengaluru’s growing challenges reflect broader urban planning gaps nationwide.Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s call for dedicated town planning expertise highlights a long-overdue need amidst immense demographic strain on infrastructure, as noted by daily commuter figures crossing seven million and total residents reaching over one crore.

The proposal for specialized education through a new town planning college could foster local solutions tailored specifically to unique challenges faced by Indian metropolises like traffic congestion and uncoordinated expansion patterns. However, Mr.Shivakumar’s positions on tunnel roads and resisting corridor changes may face scrutiny as critical projects come under public financial accountability debates.

Recognition of engineers via awards underscores their critical role but also raises questions about institutional structural support-despite robust talent output from Karnataka’s colleges-needed amid increasing workloads highlighted during crisis response examples like bommanahalli flooding.

bengaluru’s global reputation as seen through international interactions further reinforces its potential but necessitates balancing domestic governance priorities with its outward aspirations.

Read More: Published – September 15, 2025