Nanna bhoomi, nanna hakku – bhooswaadina virodhi raithara horata, indige 440 ne dina, read a message on a blackboard hung on a pole at Byramangala Circle on the Bidadi-Harohalli Road, about 40 km from the centre of Bengaluru.May 24 marked the 440th day of the farmers’ agitation against the government’s notification to acquire 7,295 acres of farmland in Bidadi. It is part of the 9,640 acres of land spread across nine revenue and 17 non-revenue villages identified for developing the “Work-Live-Play” Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township Project, popularly known as the Bidadi Township Project. The government claims it will be developed into India’s first AI-powered city.The project, however, has faced strong opposition. Since March 2025, when the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority (GBDA) – the project implementing authority – issued a preliminary notification for acquiring farmers’ land, at least 10 farmers have remained at the protest site at all times every day to demonstrate their non-consent to the acquisition.“We have submitted our representations opposing the land acquisition to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and even the Commissioner of GBDA, but none of them have visited the site even once till today,” said Nagaraju M.R., a farmer, while sitting his house in Mandalahalli and talking to The Hindu.