Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the state's ambitious plan to roll out a 'Vision Beyond Bengaluru' policy within the next 100 days. This forward-looking initiative aims to extend the state's robust economic and technological growth beyond its capital, Bengaluru, by encouraging industries to establish operations in other burgeoning cities. The government intends to offer world-class office infrastructure at highly competitive rates, with reports suggesting office space could be available for as little as 50 cents per square foot in these emerging hubs. The primary objective is to achieve balanced regional development, moving away from a Bengaluru-centric growth model to foster prosperity across the state.
Key cities identified for this expansion include Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, and Belagavi. The Chief Minister emphasized that this policy is crucial for creating widespread employment opportunities and strengthening Karnataka's overall technology ecosystem. Alongside this, the government is also planning a Public-Private AI University, a Sustainable Data Centre Policy for 2026-31, and a Bengaluru Robotics and Innovation Zone, all designed to bolster digital infrastructure, research, and industry-academia collaboration. These measures underscore Karnataka's commitment to accelerating its next phase of technology-led growth, building on its impressive software exports, which are projected to exceed ₹5.5 lakh crore this fiscal year.
