JD(S) launches ‘Nothing NICE’ campaign against NICE project

JD(S) State Youth President Nikhil Kumaraswamy | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.

JD(S) state youth president Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Friday launched a ‘Nothing NICE’ campaign against the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) project with alleged violations and irregularities in its implementation on a large scale.

At the campaign launch in Bengaluru, Mr Nikhil also unveiled the website nicnice.net, which the JD(S) says contains documents related to the project, including a copy of a recent Karnataka High Court order.

Mr. Nikhil alleged that the NICE project failed to meet several commitments made under the framework agreement signed in 1997. He said that under the project, five municipalities were proposed and 111 km of road was planned, but the project remained incomplete.

He also claimed that while 2,193 acres were originally proposed to be acquired for the peripheral road, another 554 acres were taken over. The acquired land, he claimed, was meant for public infrastructure but was instead used for real estate and private purposes.

The JD(S) leader further alleged that several farmers have not received compensation despite the passage of more than two decades. Citing the Jayachandra Joint House Committee report, he alleged that 16 of the 22 conditions attached to the project were violated.

Referring to the Supreme Court order passed in July, Mr. Nikhil said the government should ensure that land is returned to farmers who lost it due to the project.

He also called for an immediate stop to toll collection on the NICE road, questioning the reason for collecting the toll when the project was not yet complete.

“The government should take over the NICE project. If the land cannot be returned to the farmers, they should be given compensation along with interest,” he said, adding that the JD(S) would soon launch a street-level protest.

Shivakumar is the CEO of Real Estate Forum

Hitting out at the state government, Mr. Nikhil claimed to favor the real estate sector and sarcastically described Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as a “CEO of a real estate forum”.

He also clarified that though the NICE project was brought forward during HD Deve Gowda’s tenure, the framework agreement was signed during JH Patel’s tenure, and claimed that his father and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had no connection with the Bidadi township project.

Published – 28 Aug 2026 19:01 IST