• Source:JND
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Bengaluru News: The Karnataka government has taken a step towards enhancing the city's appeal as a tourist destination. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on July 27 that the proposed 250-meter Skydeck is likely to be built near the NICE Road in the city's southwest region.

Addressing a press conference, Shivakumar revealed that the location has been agreed upon by all of Bengaluru's elected representatives, including the Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka. "The Skydeck requires around 25 acres of land and we have finalised the NICE Road site, as per a Supreme Court order, which requires the NICE Road promoters to transfer approximately 200 acres to the government," he explained.

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The decision to choose the NICE Road location comes after the consideration of several other potential sites, including the NGEF land in Byappanahalli, the Sandal Soap Factory near Yeshwantpur and the Jnanabharathi campus of Bengaluru University. However, the NGEF land was ruled out due to proximity concerns with the city's old airport.

Shivakumar acknowledged that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation had reservations about the Skydeck's height, leading the state government to explore alternative locations. "We considered sites near Kommaghatta and Bengaluru University's Jnanabharathi campus, but decided against it as it might affect the University students," he said.

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The Deputy Chief Minister, who holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, stating the convenience of the chosen site for tourists travelling to Mysuru and Kodagu, and the improved connectivity with the upcoming Peripheral Ring Road. He also stated that the government plans to fund the Rs 850-crore Skydeck project, which aims to become a major tourist attraction with features such as a sky lobby, panoramic city views, a theatre, an exhibition hall, a VIP area and shopping options.

"There are no major tourist attractions in Bengaluru besides Vidhana Soudha and Nehru Planetarium. So we decided to build this Skydeck," said Shivakumar, underscoring the city's need for a landmark attraction.