Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the Karnataka government has earmarked a total of ₹203 crore for projects dedicated to the legacy of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru.
Speaking at a press conference held at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, Shivakumar stated, “We have allocated ₹103 crore for the revival and restoration of all Kempegowda memorials across the state. Additionally, ₹100 crore has been sanctioned for establishing a City Design College in Kempegowda’s name to train future urban planners and designers.”
He further informed that restoration work at Magadi Fort has already reached 50% completion. “To ensure smooth coordination among departments, a dedicated committee will be formed. Around 10 acres of land have been acquired near Kempegowda’s samadhi site, and 90% of the acquisition process has been completed,” the DCM added.
ಇಂದು ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ನಾಡಪ್ರಭು ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರದ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲನಾ ಸಭೆಯ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆ ವಹಿಸಿ, ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಬೈರೇಗೌಡ, ಶಾಸಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಚ್.ಸಿ. ಬಾಲಕೃಷ್ಣ ಮತ್ತು ಉನ್ನತ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮಾಗಡಿ ಕೋಟೆ ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡರ ವೀರ ಸಮಾಧಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಕೆಂಪೇಗೌಡ ಥೀಮ್ ಪಾರ್ಕ್ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಯೋಜನೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ… pic.twitter.com/RbfWdk3duJ
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 4, 2025
Elaborating on the proposed college, Shivakumar said, “The Kempegowda City Design College will accommodate about 300 students. We are in talks with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) to adopt a suitable curriculum. An architectural design competition has also been launched to select the best model for the Kempegowda Bhavan, being constructed over five acres in Sumanahalli.”
Highlighting the employment potential, he said, “Graduates in city design will be given opportunities in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) and BBMP. Bengaluru urgently needs professional urban designers. Funds for this initiative will come jointly from the Urban Development Department, Kempegowda Authority, and BMRDA.”
Shivakumar also revealed that Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has been assigned the responsibility of developing a thematic park near the Kempegowda statue at the Bengaluru International Airport, envisioned as a cultural and tourism landmark for the city.
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