Heritage Site Plan for J'Bharathi Campus Shrinks Skydeck Area

The pet plan of Deputy CM and Bengaluru in-Charge Minister DK Shivakumar to construct the 250-metre-tall Skydeck on Bangalore University's Jnanabharathi Campus to promote tourism and display the state capital's modernity will have only 452 acres of the campus land to choose from to build it.

- BOSKY KHANNA @Bengaluru

That is because around 660 acres of the lung space and bio-park at Jnanabharathi Campus on Mysuru Road, of the total 1,112 acres of the campus area, may be declared a 'Biodiversity Heritage Site'.

Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Eshwar B Khandre has asked the Karnataka Biodiversity Board (KBB) to submit a detailed proposal to declare the Bangalore University campus a 'Biodiversity Heritage Site'.

In a letter to KBB, dated May 13, 2025, Khandre stated that the campus has lakhs of big trees and the department is responsible for protecting the area's biodiversity. Many attempts have been made to axe the trees for construction works.