Promises uprooted as Bengaluru’s airport expansion displaces rural lives

The development surge around Kempegowda International Airport has drastically reshaped northern Bengaluru. What were once fertile agricultural lands and peaceful hamlets in areas like Devanahalli, Arasinakunte, and Channarayapatna have now morphed into hubs of upscale real estate, tech corridors, and fenced-off construction zones.

Villages that once thrived on farming are now memories. In Balepet Colony—a relocation site for evicted residents—70-year-old Bhagyalakshmi mourns the loss of her livelihood. “We were assured a better future, but survival is now a daily struggle,” she says. Her family lost three acres in Arasinakunte and received limited compensation that barely allowed them to rebuild shelter, let alone their lives.

Although promises of improved infrastructure accompanied the displacement, those commitments remain largely unfulfilled. Locals complain of unsafe living conditions, absence of public spaces, and lack of community facilities.

A 2024 survey by the University of Agricultural Sciences indicates that over one-third of cultivators in the region have parted with their land in the last 20 years. Yet, the windfall often fails to bring lasting relief. Fraud, inflated costs, and lack of guidance have left many vulnerable.

Though job creation was a key justification for land acquisition, very few displaced families have found sustainable employment. Only 17.2% transitioned into formal work, with most trapped in low-paying, informal roles.

Experts argue that without a unified development strategy, haphazard expansion continues unchecked. Calls grow louder for inclusive, village-integrated planning to prevent further marginalisation.

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