Ramesh Babu, former Congress MLC, has made a representation to the Centre seeking cancellation or deferment of the proposed e-auction of 44.03 acres of Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) land at Krishnarajapuram, Bengaluru, with a reserve price of ₹1,685.40 crore.Mr. Babu, who is also the chairman of the KPCC Media & Communication Department, argued that the land was originally allotted by the erstwhile Government of Mysore in 1948, free of cost or at concessional rates, for the public purpose of establishing ITI and generating employment. He questioned the proposed sale of the prime land to private developers as part of the Central government’s asset monetisation programme.Bids invitedThe National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC), on behalf of ITI, has invited bids for the 44.03-acre parcel located along Old Madras Road and National Highway 75. The last date for submission of technical bids and earnest money deposit is reportedly September 16, followed by a forward e-auction.The representation also points out that portions of the land are reportedly classified as government land, including karab land, and questions ITI’s authority to monetise such parcels.It has sought a joint survey by the Centre and the State and urged the governments to retain the land for a public-sector project, a skill development centre, a manufacturing or industrial hub, or other public infrastructure that could generate employment.Land soldThe demand comes shortly after ITI sold a 21-acre parcel at K.R. Puram to the Central GST Department for about ₹914.31 crore, with the sale deed registered on July 2, 2026.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, on Thursday, had expressed strong objections to PSUs auctioning lands allotted by the State government, calling it “a misuse of resources”, at the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Tamil Nadu. The matter came up during a discussion on utilisation of defence lands. He had referred to the ITI land issue also. Published - August 22, 2026 07:27 pm IST