Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has alleged that the State government joined hands with the promoters of the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) and allowed it to collect toll in violation of the framework agreement.
Addressing a press conference in Holenarasipur, Hassan district, on Saturday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that under the framework agreement, NICE was not entitled to collect toll from motorists. However, it had been allowed to do so, and had so far collected over ₹2,000 crore, he said.
Responding to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s statement that the project was the brainchild of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Mr. Kumaraswamy said it was indeed Mr. Deve Gowda’s project, and that the government had signed the memorandum of understanding during his 18-month tenure as Chief Minister. However, successive governments had allowed the private company to get profit unchecked, he alleged.
The Union Minister said the government had become subservient to the private company, and that officers had been taking decisions favouring it. Farmers who had lost land for the project had not received compensation even after 20 years, he said.
On the Bidadi Township Project, Mr. Kumaraswamy questioned the rationale behind constituting a committee, headed by a former judge, to look into the project. He added that, as the leader of a political party, he could not remain silent while attempts were being made to take over farmers’ land.
Published – August 22, 2026 07:44 pm IST
