KCCI Pitches North Karnataka Cities as Counterweights to Bengaluru's Growth
KCCI asks Karnataka government to develop four North Karnataka cities as integrated alternative growth centres to ease pressure on Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the state government to prioritise the development of four cities in North Karnataka as alternative growth centres to Bengaluru. The recommendation covers Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Haveri and Gadag.
The industry body has proposed that these urban clusters be developed as integrated hubs spanning industrial, commercial, educational, healthcare, IT, transport and logistics sectors. The move is aimed at creating balanced regional development and reducing the concentration of economic activity in the state capital.
By positioning these cities as multi-sector destinations, the KCCI believes they can emerge as viable alternatives for businesses and investors. The proposal underscores the need for a deliberate policy push to channel growth towards the northern belt of the state, which has traditionally lagged behind Bengaluru in infrastructure and investment.
The request comes amid growing concerns over the carrying capacity of Bengaluru, which continues to attract the bulk of investments and migration. Developing secondary cities, the chamber argues, would help distribute economic opportunities more evenly across Karnataka.