The Influence of Big Tech on Spatial Planning and Policies in Bengaluru: A Study of a Global City

The Influence of Big Tech on Spatial Planning and Policies in Bengaluru: A Study of a Global City Abstract The transformation of Bangalore into a global technology hub, popularly known as the "Silicon Valley of India," is one of the best examples of how large-scale technology companies affect urban growth and spatial planning practices through their increasing power as urban actors. This dissertation examines the interrelationship between Big Tech and spatial planning in Bangalore, focusing on the influence that the IT sector has exerted on urban policies and the developmental trajectory of the city. This study thus explores the critical question of the involvement of big technological firms in the metropolitan planning of Bangalore. With the help of mixed-methods approach, the research behind this dissertation used both qualitative and geospatial analysis methodologies into the three phases: an in-depth literature review, bringing together scholarship on regional advantage in Silicon Valley, the notion of speculative urbanism, and the idea that Big Tech companies as urban actors; the second phase involved data collection through maps and interviews; the third phase consisted in the visual representation (using GIS tools) and analysis of the spatial implications of Big Tech in Bangalore. The findings show that Big Tech's significant contribution to Bangalore's urban economy has driven the prioritization of high-value urban projects such as IT parks, transportation corridors, and rapid urban transport infrastructure. Although these transformations have significantly enhanced Bangalore’s international stature and economic growth, they have simultaneously intensified spatial disparities, sidelined at-risk communities and favored a corporate-oriented approach to urban governance. The research shows the ecological repercussions of unregulated urban development and highlights the need for redirecting urban strategies towards inclusive and sustainable urban planning methodologies. This dissertation thus contributes to the debate on urban governance and the socio-spatial implications of technology-driven urbanization. Keywords: Big Tech, Bangalore, spatial organization, global city, urban planning, sustainable progress