B-SMILE to start with ₹7,000 crore financial commitment from the State

The Hindu

12-05-2025

Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), a dedicated special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to execute big ticket infrastructure projects in the city, will have an initial financial commitment of ₹7,000 crore from the State government, but is authorised to attract private investment as well. This dual approach is designed to enable greater flexibility and resource mobilisation for large-scale urban infrastructure projects, sources said.
However, the company will be fully owned by the State. According to the Memorandum of Association, the Government of Karnataka will hold a 90% equity stake in the company, while BBMP will retain the remaining 10%.
B-SMILE will be governed by an 11-member board, led by a full-time Chief Executive Officer, who is an IAS officer. The board will include the Mayor of Bengaluru, the Commissioners of the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the Engineer-in-Chief of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and three experts from the private sector. This blend of public officials and domain specialists is expected to lend both administrative strength and technical expertise to the organisation.
The board is expected to be further revamped after the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 and when the present BBMP is split into multiple corporations. In that scenario, B-SMILE is expected to be tasked with most pan-city projects that cut across the jurisdictions of multiple corporations, sources said.
One of the first major tasks before B-SMILE will be to oversee the construction of 40 km of tunnel roads under the city, which is part of a larger blueprint to decongest surface traffic.
In addition, the company will be responsible for implementing a city-wide network of flyovers and underpasses, building new roads along the buffer zones of stormwater drains and developing an iconic 250-metre high skydeck, all ventures are closely associated with Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
With B-SMILE takes charge of big infrastructure projects, the corporation/s will continue to manage routine urban maintenance, such as pothole repairs and minor roadworks. According to senior officials, this bifurcation of responsibilities will allow B-SMILE to focus solely on long-term planning and its execution, while the corporation/s remains engaged with day-to-day civic operations.