HomeIndia NewsKarnataka clears Rohith Vemula Bill, approves ₹13,000 crore for projects in Bengaluru
Karnataka Cabinet clears Rohith Vemula anti discrimination bill and major Bengaluru infrastructure projects including elevated corridors flyovers and biogas systems
By PTI April 17, 2026, 7:26:16 AM IST (Published)
3 Min Read
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday (April 16) approved the Karnataka Rohith Vemula (Prevention of Exclusion or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, along with a series of major infrastructure and administrative decisions, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said.
The Bill, which had earlier been deferred, was cleared at the Cabinet meeting after considering inputs from various departments.
The minister said the government would share further details of the legislation separately. “It was deferred, and now we have cleared it.” The draft of the Rohith Vemula Bill reportedly proposes compensation of up to ₹1 lakh for students who face caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions, and a one-year₹₹ jail term and a fine of ₹
10,000 for those found guilty.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in April 2025, urging the Karnataka government to enact the “Rohith Vemula Act” to ensure that no one faces caste-based discrimination in the education system.
Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student, allegedly died by suicide due to caste-based discrimination in Hyderabad in 2016.
Apart from the legislation, the Cabinet approved a revised estimate of ₹436.44 crore for the construction of an elevated flyover at IOC Junction and an additional two-lane rail overbridge at Baiyappanahalli railway level crossing under EPC mode. “The total revised comprehensive estimate for this work is
₹436.44 crore. Administrative approval has been accorded for this amount,” the minister said.
The Cabinet also cleared ₹13,262 crore for 11 elevated corridor projects spanning approximately 75.6 km across five municipal corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority, to be implemented by Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited.
On road planning, the government decided to scrap the 2023 alignment of the Intermediate Ring Road and revert to the 2007 alignment with minor modifications.
Explaining the decision, Patil said, “The alignment prepared in 2023 for the Intermediate Ring Road has been cancelled and set aside. The 2007 alignment has been taken with minor modifications.” The Cabinet further approved the implementation of a biogas purification and compression system under the public-private partnership model, using sludge generated from five sewage treatment plants of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
Administrative approval was granted for the construction of a new central office building of the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation in Kalaburagi at an estimated cost of ₹20 crore. Ex-post facto approval was also given for the appointment of 16 Motor Vehicle Inspectors in line with a Supreme Court order.
The Cabinet approved revised penalties against certain officials of the Archaeological Conservation Department as per a High Court order, and granted property tax exemption for several key government properties, including Lok Bhavan, Kumarakrupa Guest House, Kanteerava Stadium, and Koramangala Stadium. The pending dues on these properties stood at around ₹81 crore, the minister said.
Approval was also given to transfer the development of Karwar Airport to the Airports Authority of India under the Ports and Inland Water Transport Department.
