Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil has responded strongly to Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s suggestion for creating a new Silicon Valley in India. Taking to social media, Patil emphasized that ‘Bengaluru is in India,’ underscoring the decades of effort that went into developing the city’s infrastructure.
Patil questioned Goyal’s remarks about needing a separate Silicon Valley for entrepreneurs and innovators, stating, ‘Bengaluru wasn’t built in a day; it took decades, centuries to build Bengaluru.’ He highlighted Goyal’s comment about ‘Our Own’ Silicon Valley, asserting that Bengaluru already holds that title as India’s tech hub.
Goyal had previously suggested creating new townships for startups and innovators, urging the development of infrastructure to support their growth. In response, Patil invited Goyal to collaborate on advancing the KHIR (Knowledge, Health, Innovation, and Research) city project, which aims to attract significant investment and create approximately 80,000 jobs.
Patil stressed the importance of nurturing Bengaluru’s existing ecosystem rather than diverting focus to a new location. He urged Goyal to utilize his office to help elevate ‘Namma Bengaluru’ as a global city, ensuring that the city remains a focal point for innovation and development. The KHIR project, yet to be launched, is expected to draw investments worth Rs 40,000 crores, with potential sites being explored between Dabaspet and Doddaballapur.
