This thread is intended to discuss projects, economy, Infrastructure and developments in Karnataka state.

Hope that we keep the BMRC, BIAL updates out of this thread.:)

Rapid transit system in Mysore in 2 months.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun272007/state200706279719.asp?section=updatenews
http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/28/stories/2007062856770200.htm

The project, aimed at discouraging use of more private vehicles, will be completed in the next four years with an investment of Rs 615 crore.

A Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) to promote usage of public transport will be introduced in the city and Mysore, Karnataka Transport Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy said today.
Talking to newspersons here, he said the project, sponsored by the Centre, would be commissioned in the next two months in Mysore. The project, aimed at discouraging use of more private vehicles, would be completed in the next four years with an investment of Rs 615 crore. However, details for the project in the city were not made available.
Mr Cheluvarayaswamy said the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation would take up several other development projects like
augmentation of 740 new schedules, purchase of 1,550 new buses, including 50 Volvo buses, and Inter Model Transit Centre at Peenya in the city in the coming months. It had also taken up upgradation of infrastructure facilities at bus stations across the State.
The KSRTC's revenue reached an all time high of Rs 1,272 crore in 2006-07, a growth of 17 per cent as against Rs 1,086 crore in 2005-06.

State tourism infrastructure development

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/28/stories/2007062858690300.htm

BIJAPUR: Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development B. Sriramulu has said that a Rs. 50-crore proposal has been submitted to the Department of Finance for the development of tourism-related infrastructure in the State.

Inaugurating a workshop on “Scope for Tourism Development in Bijapur” here on Wednesday, Mr. Sriramulu said he was hopeful that the proposal would be approved soon.

He said that while there were good number of heritage sites, scenic spots and other destinations in the State, they lacked proper approaches. Also, a lot had to be done to provide good facilities, including decent accommodation, information and viable transport to tourists. He said that if the proposal was implemented, it would go long way in tapping the tourism potential of the State, particularly in the north Karnataka region that had remained neglected so far.

Referring to the historical city of Bijapur, the Minister said that it had a number of classic monuments, the tourism potential of which had remained untapped. The Tourism Department had decided to release Rs. 6 crore for the development of tourism-related infrastructure in the city. Therefore, he was asking Deputy Commissioner V.B. Patil to prepare a plan and submit it immediately.

Mr. Sriramulu said that the Infrastructure Development Department had already released Rs. 10 crore for the development of an airport in Bijapur, for which the process of land acquisition had already begun. He said a sum of Rs. 10 crore had been released for gauge-conversion work on the Bagalkot-Gadag section of the Sholapur–Gadag railway line, which was being executed jointly with the South Western Railway. The work was expected to be over by the year-end. Then, heritage sites such as Hampi, Bijapur, Badami, Aihole and Patadkal could be brought under a tourism circuit, and tourists could be offered an attractive package on the lines of the “Palace on Wheels”, he said.

Green belt area shrinks to 419.50 square km of Bangalore Metropolitan Area.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/27/stories/2007062752400300.htm

BANGALORE: It is official. The green belt area is down to 419.50 sq. km. and urbanisable area has gone up to 800 sq. km. in the 1219.5 sq. km. of Bangalore Metropolitan Area, the planning area of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)....

On suggestion from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, the BDA has earmarked buffer zones of 50 m, 25 m and 15 m respectively on either side of the primary, secondary and tertiary canals respectively in Vrishabhavati, Arkavathy, Bellandur and Hebbal valleys. The draft master plan had earmarked the entire region as buffer zone and therefore allowed no development....

Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) first unit ready.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/27/stories/2007062753280300.htm

HASSAN: Energy Minister H.D. Revanna has said the first unit of Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) that will produce 500 MW power is ready and will be dedicated to nation shortly. A function will be arranged at Kudathini which is 25 km from Bellary.

Mr. Revanna was addressing presspersons at Singapura village in Holenarsipur Taluk on Monday, after inaugurating primary health centre. He said that a sub-station would be started at Singapuraat at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.

Modernisation:
The Minister said that priority had been given to modernisation and improvement of the existing system but now priority would be given to power generation. He said Rs. 200 crore was being spent on modernisation of Hemavathi canals and that the work would be completed in four months.

Singapore keen on lending expertise for IT parks.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/27/stories/2007062758640300.htm

Mangalore: Singapore is keen to lend expertise in setting up information technology (IT) parks in tier-two cities of India in general and Karnataka in particular on lines of projects executed in Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Pondicherry, the Consul-General, Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Chennai, Ajit Singh said. They were also willing to share expertise in developing townships for IT parks and special economic zones (SEZs), he said.

Participating in an interaction meet with the members of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, Mr. Ajit has said the IT Park built by a Singapore company in Chennai was running to capacity. The second and third phases of IT park venture there had been booked to capacity even before the project could take off. Singapore’s expertise in critical areas of IT infrastructure could be replicated in other centres as well, he said.

Referring to the Coastal Special Economic Zone coming up in the city, Mr. Ajit said his country would look at collaborations to set up integrated townships for the SEZ here. Referring to other possible areas of interest in India, Mr. Ajit said Singapore could lend expertise in critical infrastructure areas such as airports and seaports. The Port of Singapore Authority had evinced interest in setting up the second terminal at Chennai port.

The Singapore Government was keen on participating in the airport expansion project in Chennai to be taken up by Airports Authority of India.

On India-Singapore relationship, Mr. Ajit said his country was seventh largest investor in India. It had emerged as the third largest investor in the country between January and November 2006 and was one of India’s top four trading partners. The trade between India and Singapore was $ 16 billion last year. Singapore was keen to expand relationship with India, he added.

How many threads do you want to have which is already there.

1 of 4 best tech schools in K'taka: Report

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun282007/state200706289919.asp?section=updatenews

According to a latest national survey by IDC along with Dataquest magazine which ranked 117 top technical and engineering colleges in the country, Karnataka had one out of four colleges.

Karnataka is home to 25 per cent of top engineering and technical colleges in the country with Indian IT hub Bangalore alone contributing 22 per cent.
According to a latest national survey by IDC along with Dataquest magazine which ranked 117 top technical and engineering colleges in the country, Karnataka had one out of four colleges.
A release from Dataquest said the ranking was based on composite scores arrived on the basis of parameters such as placements, infrastructure, academic environment, industry interface and HR perception.
Besides Bangalore such schools were in Bellary, Mysore, Tumkur and Udupi in Karnataka.
The other cities which contributed significantly to the 117 best T-Schools from South India included Chennai with seven, Delhi five and Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of Delhi, six.
The PES Institute of Technology in Bangalore made it to the top five list from South India with global salaries scaling new highs.
The T-Schools had a very unlikely visitor on their campus looking for employees. It was European major Schlumberger Limited, the world's largest oilfield services corporation operating in 80 countries with 70,000 people of 140 nationalities and revenues topping 19 Billion US Dollar.

MysoreOne kiosks to be set up soon.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/30/stories/2007063058570300.htm

The kiosks will run on public-private partnership model

They will also come up in various parts of the State

MYSORE: To provide a range of public utility services to the citizens of Mysore under a single roof, the State Government will soon set up MysoreOne kiosks on the lines of BangaloreOne.

Once the MysoreOne kiosks are set up under the Government’s e-governance initiative, the residents of the city will have to make just one stop for paying water, electricity and telephone bills, besides booking railway and flight tickets.

After the resounding success of BangaloreOne, the Government has approved the setting up of such e-governance centres in various parts of the State, including Mysore.

Assistant Director of Electronic Delivery of Citizens Service, Bangalore, S.B. Sarangamath told The Hindu over phone that the Government had invited tenders from private players for deployment, maintenance and operation of the softw are required for running MysoreOne kiosks.

Besides Mysore, such e-governance kiosks, which are run on the public-private partnership model, will be set up in Hubli-Dharwad, Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum.

“The e-governance kiosk in Hubli-Dharwad, which is scheduled to start in two to three months, will be a pilot project. Subsequently, such kiosks will be set up in Mysore, Gulbarga, Belgaum and Mangalore simultaneously,” he added.

Apart from accepting water, electricity and telephone bills, MysoreOne will offer a host of utility services such as renewal of licences, accepting of road tax, issue of bus passes, reserve tickets for trains and flights and accept applications for passport.

People can pay property tax and penalty for traffic violations at the kiosks which will also issue birth and death certificates.

No extra cost: “All these services will be made available to the citizens of Mysore at no extra cost,” Mr. Sarangamath said.

The Electronic Delivery of Citizens Service, which comes under the Government’s e-governance Department, has already prepared the software for the e-governance project by networking with various Government agencies and private sector companies offering a range of services.

“The software is a property of the Government. If BangaloreOne is to be replicated in other cities, the database has to be strengthened. A sum of Rs 1.25 crore has been set aside for the purpose,” he added.

Deployment of personnel to man the kiosks, besides maintaining and operating the software would be responsibility of the private player. The Government would facilitate networking with various government departments and agencies for the successful implementation. The Government would also set up a cell with district-level officers to monitor the project, Mr. Sarangamath said.

About five to six lakh transactions were taking place across the 16 BangaloreOne centres every month, he said. “We will study how the kiosks in Hubli-Dharwad fare before starting the service in other places. It may take about a year for MysoreOne kiosks to start functioning,” Mr. Sarangamath added.

Three projects push up land prices in Bidar

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/30/stories/2007063052620300.htm

Bidar: Bidar is witnessing an unprecedented real estate boom with three development projects coming up in and around the city.

The Medical Council of India has given green signal to a government medical college. The Defence Ministry has agreed to the request of the State Government to utilise the Bidar Air Force Base for starting civil aviation.

Karnataka Veterinary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries University situated in 150 acres of land has plans to double its campus size.
These developments have pushed up the value of agriculture and non-agriculture land in and around Bidar.

Enclave

The airport’s civil enclave will come up in the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board’s industrial area between Kolar K. and Jamistanpur.
Nearly 125 acres of unused land in the KIADB area will be handed over to the Airports Authority of India.
This has led to the increase in the value of land in villages surrounding the KIADB area such as Naubad, Kolar K., Bakchodi, Nizampur, Chowli, Chondi and Jamistanpur, according to sources in sub-registrar’s office.

Demand
The sources said that the value of land in villages near the proposed civil enclave had gone up to Rs. 8 lakh an acre.
However, real estate dealers said that the prices were even higher.
Some contractors recently bought land at Rs. 35 lakh an acre at Naubad.
There was a good demand for non-agriculture land in that area, engineer and developer Ravi Mulge said.

“Opening of a medical college has its impact on the city. House rent around the district hospital has almost doubled and it is almost impossible for a middle-class family to buy a house in Bidar now,” R. Balakrishna, senior banker and trade union leader, said.
“A year ago, you could rent a single bedroom house in the city for less than Rs. 1,000. The rent has doubled now,” he added.

Difficult
The University is finding it difficult in procuring land in Nandi Nagar, Yadalapur, Marzapur, Kashempur, Bellur and Kamthana.
Earlier, people bought land for Rs. 1 lakh in Kamthana. But now, no farmer is willing to sell land even for Rs. 5 lakh an acre, according to Kushalrao Yaba, zilla panchayat member from Kamthana.

Accelerated economy

With all developments and possibilities of an accelerated economy, Bidar may longer remain a backward area.
There will be more money in the market, even though it may not change the life of all, according to professor of Economics Venkob Rao.

Mysore-Blore twin track by 09.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul62007/state2007070611247.asp

DH News Service, Mysore/Bangalore:



The much awaited Mysore-Bangalore railway line doubling will be completed by 2009, according to Parliamentary Railway Standing Committee Chairman Basudeb Acharie. Speaking to media persons here on Thursday., he said the committee was on a visit to Mysore railway workshop and meet officials.

Acharie said the electrification would be done along with the line doubling. “Mysore division is doing a good work. Some modernisation is required to give facelift to the division. We will recommend the ministry to sanction necessary funds,”...

3,000 km of roads to be upgraded to highways.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/08/stories/2007070851230300.htm

Gulbarga: The State Government will upgrade nearly 3,000 km of district main roads to State highways in north Karnataka districts, MLA Vishwanth Patil Hebbal said here on Saturday.

He said that in Gulbarga, nearly 223 km of district main roads will be upgraded. They included the road from Firozabad Cross to Shahabad, Madbul, Rummangud and Chengta, from Handaraki to Chitapur, Tengli, Hebbal and Aralakal, Bidar-Chincholi and Chincholi to Sedam and from Afzalpur, Ghattargi, Devar Navadagi and Sindagi.

Rs. 309 crore for rural roads development.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/10/stories/2007071060020500.htm

Chitradurga: The Union and State Governments will release Rs. 309 crore for the development of roads in rural areas of the State, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayatiraj C.M. Udasi has said.

The Minister told presspersons here on Monday that the funds would be released to all the taluks of the State for road development works.

The works would be given on contract basis for not less than Rs. 60 lakh. The funds to be released would be between Rs. 1 crore and Rs. 3 crore, based on the requirement...

Kolar-Region updates.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul132007/district2007071212574.asp

* Bangalore-Nangali road project.
* Kolar-Chickballapur broadguage conversion work.

The projects for the 6-lane road from Bangalore to Hosakote and 4-lane road from Krishnarajapura to Nangali will be started from September onwards, informed Union Minister of State for Land Transport and Highways K H Muniyappa.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, he said the Government had signed a tender contract with a private company with regards to these road projects. All the initial formalities had been completed and the project was supposed to start. It is estimated that the projects would be completed within 24-26 months, he added.
He said, once the National Highway 4 would be expanded, there would be an increase in the number of industries coming to Kolar. Entrepreneurs and industrialists from Delhi and Mumbai are expected in Kolar. Already several companies had contacted him in this regard, he informed.

Industries
It is being discussed to facilitate these industrialists who arrive from different parts of the country, in establishing units in silk, food processing and export of vegetable produce. This is being discussed with District In-charge Minister Alanguru Shrinivas and with the the help of Union and State governments, these industries would be estatlished in Kolar, the minister stated.
A project has been prepared to develop agriculture, horticulture and water conservation in the district, with the help of the Japan Bank of International Co-operation Institute. The union minister related to this project had contacted the State government in this regard. This project would be implemented once the State government guarantteed the proposal, Mr Muniyappa said.

Broadguage
He said, the Kolar-Chickballapur broadguage conversion work was going on in full speed. If connectivity was provided from Shrinivaspura to Chittoor, then, direct network with other parts of the country will be possible. The farmers’ agricultural produce can also be exported through this network. Discussions are on with the Union Railway Minister in this regard, the minister added.

Rural roads to connect NH under NABARD.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul132007/district2007071212573.asp

DH News Service,Kolar:
Most of the rural roads in the taluk will be asphalted and connected to the National Highway, said MLA K Shrinivas gowda.
He was speaking after performing the ground breaking ceremony of the road which passes through Holur, Bennaguru, Chilapanahalli, Annihalli, Matthikunte and connects to Kolar, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.38 crores under NABARD scheme at Chilapanahalli on ON Sunday.
The scheme under NABARD will be completed within eight months which will benefit people from Holur, Matthikunte, Yaldur, Lakhsmisagar and other places which takes less time and low expense too, he added.
The road works will be connected to the national highway after the completion of works, he said.
He also said that he would work for the development of villages and help to provide all the basic facilities such as drinking water, roads, transportation, cleanliness, water and other basic amenities.

Committee to monitor Hampi development.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul152007/state2007071512952.asp

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/15/stories/2007071556710300.htm

As the masterplan for Hampi Development has been approved and notified by the State Government, a Hampi co-ordination committee has been formed to oversee a host of initiatives to make Hampi a world-class tourism destination.

The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism Dr Christy Fernandez and will have State Tourism Secretary and Principal Secretary, Infrastructure as members along with stakeholders. The stakeholders include Indian Railways, Airport Authority of India, Archaeological Survey of India, the State Government and different airlines.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr Fernandez said Hampi was “no less important or less thrilling than the Taj.”
In a host of new initiatives, 232 acres of land will be utilised and developed to improve accessibility within Hampi area. Land has also been identified outside Hampi for development of hotels, restaurants, resorts and amusement parks. Ninety acres of land has been identified near the Hospet Railway Station, which can be used by private parties to improve amenities.
Plans to improve connectivity to Hampi, including more scheduled and chartered flights, are on the cards. The Railways Tourist Catering Corporation has offered to improve its services to develop facilities at Hospet Railway Station, he said.
He also announced that work will start on the Anegondi bridge which was abandoned due to objections by UNESCO which has been sorted out.

INTERPRETATION CENTRE
The Interpretation Centre, a one-stop introduction centre for visitors on Hampi, is in the pipeline. This will include reading material and touchscreens, along with curio shops to quench the visitor’s curiosity. Work was abandoned on the centre earlier as UNESCO had raised objections which have been sorted out.
The interpretation centre, which will be located close to Kamalapur, will come up on 44 acres of land.

Inter-State highway to be upgraded in Gulbarga.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071753240300.htm

GULBARGA: The State Government has decided to upgrade the inter-State highway connecting Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, passing through Gulbarga district, from Ripponpalli in Andhra Pradesh to Waghdhari in Maharashtra under the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, and tenders will be floated shortly for the work.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Monday that the 141-km road from Ripponpalli to Waghdhari, passing through Sedam, Gulbarga, Chitapur, and Aland taluks in Gulbarga district, was considered to be one of the important highways having potential to become one of the major State highways generating economic activity in the region.

The proposal for upgrading the road to a national highway taking into consideration the high volume of traffic on the road, due to the presence of two important cement factories in Sedam taluk, would reduce the distance from Gulbarga to important cities in Maharashtra, including Solapur, Pune and Mumbai, and Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

This important highway is now in a bad shape; it is good only at some places, and as per the rough estimates prepared by the Public Works Department, the cost of the project would be around Rs. 200 crore.The sources said that if the project comes through, it would be the first State highway in north Karnataka to be taken up under BOT.

Although the proposal for upgrading the inter-State highway passing through Aland, Afzalpur, Gulbarga and Sedam Assembly constituencies was under the consideration for several years, the Government had not taken a final decision on the proposal.

Besides transportation of cement, vehicles transporting red gram and other pulses from Gulbarga district to Maharashtra would use the inter-State highway after it was improved.

Railways inaugurates amenities in Hubli.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071753340300.htm

HUBLI: Praveen Kumar, general manager of South Western Railway, inaugurated several passenger amenities set up at the Hubli Railway Station here on Monday.

The passenger amenities inaugurated on Monday, included coach guidance system, reservation availability display on television, display systems of arrival and departure of trains, touch screen systems and global positioning system (GPS) based master slave digital clock and hotline interactive voice response system (IVRS) phone. Mr. Praveen Kumar expressed satisfaction over the initiatives taken by Hubli division of SWR.

He suggested some changes to be made for improving the passenger amenities provided at the Hubli Railway Station. Rakesh Vatash, Divisional Railway Manager, Hubli Division, explained the new amenities provided to rail commuters. He said the coach guidance system had been provided at all the four platforms in the station and at the concourse.
The two plasma television sets at the passenger reservation centre (PRS) would display the online reservation availability status.

The touch screen system at the concourse would enable to passengers to make PNR enquiry and know reservation availability and the same could be done by using the two hotline IVRS phones provided at the concourse, he said.
Eleven GPS-based master slave digital clocks had been installed at all the four platforms, the concourse, the PRS centre and the main entrance, he added.

Chitradurga will have better rail link by March.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071850850200.htm

Chitradurga: The proposal to upgrade the railway track of the district by South Western Railway will soon come as a gift to the people here.
The out-of-turn proposal (which is not announced in budget) of upgrading railway track between Chikjajoor of the district to Raidurga of Andhra Pradesh was mooted last year.

The upgradation of around 131-km track is expected to be completed by March 2008. The project was made with an intention of providing better rail connectivity to the people of the district since it was district headquarters.

An official of the South Western Railway told The Hindu that as per the plan, upgrading the track between Chikjajoor and Challakere had been completed and by March the work between Challakere and Raidurga would be completed, he said .

After the upgradation, four express trains, including Karnataka Express, was expected to pass through Chitradurga station. The number of goods trains would be augmented to at least seven a day.
This was expected to help the people of the district in reserving the journey tickets and also to transport goods. At present, the station received seven trains daily with the passenger density of about 300 a train.

Looking at the future requirement, the South Western Railway had started expanding the platform and adding other amenities such as toilets, waiting rooms, VIP lounge and increasing parking area. The official said that about Rs. 70 crore would be spent for expansion.
The present size of the platform was around 60 metres which would be increased to 180 metres. The officer said some facilities like toilets were inadequate and they would be improved. The working hours of the reservation counter would be increased to fulltime, from the present six hours.

Advanced Jewellery Design Technology Centre in Bangalore inaugurated.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071854420500.htm

BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday inaugurated an advanced jewellery design technology centre to train jewellers in the use of advanced technology here. The centre will also help in developing new designs in jewellery using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

The centre has been set up on the basis of public-private partnership at a cost of Rs. 3.8 crore. The State Government has given Rs. 1.78 crore under the Central Government’s Assistance to States for Developing Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities (ASIDE) scheme. Dassault Systems of France has given the design software.

Mr. Yediyurappa said such centres would help in upgrading the hereditary skills of jewellers and enable them to prepare quality ornaments in quick time. The Government had given Rs. 30 crore to set up jewellery design centres in Bangalore and Karwar. It would give job-oriented training to one lakh people under Suvarna Kayaka Yojane, he said.

M.H. Dhananjaya, Director (Technical), J.S.S. College, Mysore, said the centre was the first of its kind which focussed on jewellery design technology.
It would train jewellers in casting technology, computer-aided-design for jewellery designing, fabrication and training on faceting (machine cutting), he said.
Six incubation centres would be provided for new entrepreneurs to establish their enterprise and make use of the facilities, he said.

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Jul292007/state2007072915869.asp

Super corrupt government penalising me, says Kheny
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise on Saturday slammed the Karnataka Governments move to consider a proposal from an international consortium to develop the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor.

Mitsubishi, VST to have diesel engine plant in Mysore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/30/stories/2007073056410300.htm

MYSORE: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited (MHI), Japan, and VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VTTL) have announced another joint venture here on Friday.

The MHI-VST Diesel Engines Private Limited will have its plant in Mysore which will manufacture small size diesel engines (up to 50 HP).

The first phase of the project which is estimated to cost Rs. 41.5 crore will have a plant capacity of 30,000 units and will go on stream by May 2008, according to A.T. Nahender, director, MHI-VST Diesel Engines.
“We have planned to commence the production in December 2007 and gradually increase the indigenous content,” he said in a press release here.

The joint venture (JV) is aimed at creating a gateway to India’s rapidly growing small size diesel engine market and firmly establishing a foundation as a leading player in the area. The JV would be geared up to meet the state-of-the-art technologies in diesel engines and emission norms which were made mandatory for various applications.
Under the licence from MHI, the MHI-VST Diesel Engines Private Ltd. would manufacture, sell and service diesel engines with displacements in the range of 640 cc to 1,760 cc.

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Jul292007/state2007072915869.asp

Super corrupt government penalising me, says Kheny
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise on Saturday slammed the Karnataka Governments move to consider a proposal from an international consortium to develop the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor.

I am 100% sure that this time SC is going to take the govt into task for all this hangama...
God knows what all tricks are being played by the former PM & co. Hopefully they don't succeed in there wrong mission.

I have a feeling that Mangalore is always ignored by the bigwigs in Bangalore as far as development is concerned . Is there any truth to this ? . Is this because mostly minority communities live in Mangalore like the konkani/tulu speaking people ? . Its strange that a city which is a natural port does not seem to be in the radar of the state governments scheme for development . Also the local communities in mangalore have always been very enterprising and business savy compared to the rest of the state .

I have a feeling that Mangalore is always ignored by the bigwigs in Bangalore as far as development is concerned . Is there any truth to this ? . Is this because mostly minority communities live in Mangalore like the konkani/tulu speaking people ? . Its strange that a city which is a natural port does not seem to be in the radar of the state governments scheme for development . Also the local communities in mangalore have always been very enterprising and business savy compared to the rest of the state .

hi rajheg..
i think it has got more to do with general mediocrity and ineptitude of our political class. moily (leading intellectual and all that) himself did piddly squat for the region. krishna basin (north karnataka) gets even more raw deal.

that the former DK region still leads the state in all types of metrics irrespective of any govt support is a true tribute the peoples' enterprise.
in TN kovai i believe is like that.

I am 100% sure that this time SC is going to take the govt into task for all this hangama...
God knows what all tricks are being played by the former PM & co. Hopefully they don't succeed in there wrong mission.

hi lakshmi..
yeah today there is a critical SC ruling.
but really there are two sides to this. last week in the KA HC, NICE admitted (http://bangalore.praja.in/blog/silkboard/2007/07/25/bmic-losing-relevance#comment-124) as much to have violated the framework agreement. but at the same time the time there is no denying that Gowda's have approached this from a personal vendetta angle too.

there are some interesting things about SKIL.
it appears that the SKIL is a company with Gowda connexions. As Vlakshmi (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=14157279&postcount=69)pointed out they are also the people behind nandagudi SEZ (which is different from nandagudi satellite town). is SKIL is a company with Gowda connexions (http://bangalore.praja.in/blog/shas3n/2007/07/29/govt-considering-booting-nice-bmic#comment-143)?

even kheny is alleging similar things (http://deccanherald.com/Content/Jul302007/state2007073016024.asp).
Alleging that the Global Infrastructure Consortium (GIC) is a phony company, the NICE chief said he would be writing a letter to the United States State Department and Commerce Secretary for action to be initiated against the firm for false claims.

“SKIL (Seaking Infrastructure Limited) is headed by Nikhil Gandhi. The State government has connived with him to make an offer on the project. He is the same person who had bid for the Nandagudi SEZ. The State Government has assured him of the SEZ only if they bid for the BMIC project,” Mr Kheny noted.
NICE has also alleged that the Gujarat government had cancelled a project by SKIL for setting up a SEZ after the SC ruled that SKIL had indulged in unfair/unethical trade practices.

Centre and State to share cost of Bidar-Gulbarga railway line.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/03/stories/2007080351340300.htm

Bidar: The Union and State governments will equally share the cost of laying the Bidar-Gulbarga railway line. The State Government has indicated the Centre that it will pay half the cost.

According to a press release, Tourism and Infrastructure Minister B. Sriramulu said in reply to a question by Quazi Arshad Ali in the Legislative Council that the Railway Ministry had approved the cost sharing formula. Nearly Rs. 20 crore had been sanctioned for the line already. It would be released soon....

Karnataka resolution to boost farm sector.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug42007/state2007080417056.asp

Faced with the bleak situation of loss in momentum in the agriculture sector, a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Bangalore on Friday unveiled a 18-point Karnataka resolution to increase agriculture productivity and rural credit.

A comprehensive operational working plan to implement the resolutions will be put in place to achieve 4.5 per cent annual growth in agriculture sector during the XI five-year plan period.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, attended by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and top officials, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the plan envisages increased productivity through infrastructure building and optimum utilisation of funds.
The working plan envisages to implement the recommendations of the Vaidyanathan Committee report and adopt new approaches to provide credit to additional 16 lakh farmers.
The plan acknowledges the need of private participation in setting up modern terminal market complexes.
Financial closure will soon be achieved for Hassan and Channapatna market complexes and selection of private entrepreneurs for Hubli and Bijapur markets would be completed by March 2008. Modern techniques like setting up of DNA fingerprinting laboratory, state-of-the-art soil testing centres are also on the agenda. The state has set itself with a target to achieve additional production of 10 lakh tonnes of rice, four lakh tonnes of pulses, five lakh tonnes of maize and nine lakh tonnes of oil seeds under the national food security mission.
Other targets include additional milk production of 10.56 lakh tonnes and marine fish production of 1.2 lakh tonnes per annum during the XI plan period.
Mr Ahluwalia said that the Centre would render financial help to the state to achieve the set goals under the Additional Central Assistance scheme amounting to Rs 25,000 crore as proposed in the National Development Council.

SEZ: Work in Mlore to commence next year.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug42007/state2007080417049.asp

Work on the proposed Special Economic Zone in Mangalore, anchored by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, is expected to kick off early next year.

The Union Ministry for Environment and Forests is likely to give a go-ahead to the project by December this year, following which the anchor-developer can commence the bidding process, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday. He, along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, was briefing reporters on a review meeting of major investment proposals in Karnataka, wherein timeliness were fixed for ongoing infrastructure projects.
According to the timeline fixed for the SEZ, the State will hand over 268 acres of government land to the anchor-developer by September 15. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board is scheduled to complete the acquisition of 2,262 acres of land, by November 3. The Central and State governments have fixed detailed timeliness for the investment proposals that the State has taken up independently and in the Centre’s association. Chidambaram said the timeliness would be monitored by the Union Finance Ministry, along with the Prime Minister’s and Chief Minister’s offices.
“I had come with a 20-point agenda, and the State government added a number of items to it. We have tried to identify obstacles... by and large, the projects are on track,” Chidambaram said. The meeting was part of the second review — after the one with the Andhra Pradesh Government — that the Centre has taken up with State governments.
The upcoming international greenfield airport in Devanahalli, capacity addition to the New Mangalore Port and Bangalore Metro were some of the key points that the meeting delved upon, the Finance Minister said.
State’s issues
The State government raised additional issues during the meeting, Chidambaram said. Funding for PPP projects, request for an audience with Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to discuss special rail projects to Karnataka and protection of coastal areas from sea erosion were among the major topics that the State raised during the meeting.
The Tadadi power project too figured in the meeting, When the state government officials pointed out that there has been resistance for locating the project in Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district, mr Chidambaram reportedly said that the request to relocate the project would be looked into.

State, a role model: PM.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug42007/state2007080417052.asp

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday showered praises on the State, describing Karnataka as a jewel of the country and a role model for the rest of the nation.

“In fact, Karnataka presents the very image of research and development and it is a pleasure for me to visit the State,” he said while addressing a select group of Congress leaders, legislators and party office-bearers here.
The people of the State have made immense contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. Probably referring to the capital city, Mr Singh said that despite its cosmopolitan status, “people here have always lived in peace, religious and communal harmony”.
He said the State should submit a proposal “in a bigger way” for taking up developmental projects under the National Urban Renewal Mission and assured the State of all assistance, declaring that “Karnataka is secure in the hands of the UPA government.”

SEZ: Work in Mlore to commence next year.
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug42007/state2007080417049.asp

... The State government raised additional issues during the meeting, Chidambaram said. Funding for PPP projects, request for an audience with Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to discuss special rail projects to Karnataka ...
cool. sounds like another HSR project ...

Farmers sore over unending BMIC row.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20070804021018&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Karnataka&Topic=0&

MYSORE: With Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project facing many hurdles owing to the stand off between the project executing company and the government, farmers who are ready to give their land for the much-awaited Express Highway, are keeping a close eye on the daily developments.

Many farmers are not happy with the uncertainties and delay over the project and want an early end to the decade-old row. Even as the State Government has decided not to execute land sale deeds to any infrastructure projects, including the BMIC, and transferring the project to a US consortium, farmers feel there os no one to listen to their woes.

Siddegowda, a farmer who has some land spread across Ramnahalli and Kamanakerehundi told the Express that a majority of farmers were ready to give their land for a good cause -the expressway between Mysore and Bangalore. “But we are not ready to hand over the excess land for townships as planned under the project.”

Villagers from Kamakerehundi-Ramanna and Devegowda -whose lands have been marked for acquisition also feel the same. But Basavaraj, a farmer from Mahadevapura, is sick of the long wait.

When contacted, official sources in KIADB (BMIC) office in Mandya said that a preliminary notification to acquire up to 6000 acres for the project was the last communication their office received since 1998.

Sources also said the estimated 5000-6000 acres also included townships besides the toll road. NICE has planned to develop an eco-tourism centre next to the expressway close to Mysore.

Karnataka redefines expressway project as special State highway (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/07/stories/2007080751252100.htm)


In a bid to expedite the land acquisition process for the six-lane expressway project to connect the new Banglaore International Airport at Devanahalli, the Government has redefined the project as a Special State Highway.

The reclassification done through a gazette notification issued by the Public Works Department, has declared the expressway as a special highway under the provisions of the Karnataka Highways Act, 1964. The change will quicken the process of land acquisition and award compensation faster.

The gazette said that the 22.10-km-long special State highway would begin from land in Banaswadi village, Bangalore East taluk and would pass through Banaswadi, Chalkere, Horamavu, Agara, Kylasanahalli, Bairathi Kani, Bairathi, Dodda Gubbi, Chikka Gubbi, Chalatti, Bagalur, Hovinayakanahalli, Bandikodigehallui, Begur and Yaratigenahalli, Akalenahalli and Mallenahalli villages in Devanahalli taluk.

Opto Circuits gets nod for SEZ near Mysore

BS Reporter / Mumbai August 08, 2007

Stent and patient monitoring system maker Opto Circuits (India) has received government approval to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) near Mysore.

The company expanded its medical technologies portfolio during the first quarter by acquiring the domestic manufacturing companies Devon Innovations and Ormed Medical Technology.

The companies manufacture products like catheters, stone graspers, stone baskets and dilator sets for different specialized applications.

Ministry seeks more land for Mysore airport.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug102007/national2007080918194.asp

The civil aviation ministry, which has commended the Karnataka government’s efforts to build new airports in the state, has major plans for Mysore which it wants the state administration to approve.

Civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla remarked: “Karnataka government is aggressively and ambitiously developing several regional airports. It is good and I hope other states show the same kind of spirit”.
Speaking about the ongoing projects and the proposed ones, Mr Chawla said while the work was progressing fast on the Mysore airport project, the ministry wanted the state government to first give more land for upgrading the airport and later allot some more land so that new allied projects can be started.

According to the secretary, the airport was currently being rebuilt on a 175 acre land so that it can receive the smaller ATR aircraft. “However, the ministry feels that Mysore airport needs further upgradation so that it takes pressure off Bangalore. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has taken up this project, wants another 310 acre of land so that bigger aircraft such as A320 can land there ”, he said. The ministry has written to the state government in this regard.

Mr Chawla said the Centre told the state government at the meeting chaired by finance minister P Chidambaram in Bangalore on August 3 that if more land was given to the AAI, more aviation-related projects could be developed adjacent to the Mysore airport.

“These include MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft), flight training centre etc so that even Mysore can become an important centre from the aviation point of view. For this , an additional 400 acre is required. There are problems in land acquisition, according to the state government, as railway line and National Highway run close to the airport site. However, a delegation of the ministry, AAI and the state government will visit the site by August-end in this regard”, he added.

The MoU for Mysore airport was signed on October 6, 2005 and is expected to be completed before the scheduled December, 2008 opening. The ongoing project includes development of a 1.7-km runway and creation of infrastructure, consisting of a new terminal building for 100 passengers, apron, taxiway, and a control tower, at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 crores.

On the Bangalore’s upcoming international airport, the secretary said while the airport project was progressing as per schedule, the worry was over connectivity to the city.

Mangalore airport
Describing the Mangalore airport as “a vibrant airport”, Mr Chawla said the AAI recently awarded work on extension of runway and terminal building. The state government has agreed to acquire 70 acre for this purpose and the work would be completed in less than two years, he added.

Horticultural research centre to come up in Sagar.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/10/stories/2007081053270300.htm

SAGAR: University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, has proposed to set up a horticultural research centre here. A consultative meeting held here on Thursday considered various aspects relating to setting up of the centre.
Scientists at UAS Prabhakar Shetty, Mahabaleshwar Hegde and Eeshwar, who attended the meeting, favoured the suggestion by local MLA Beluru Gopalakrishna to establish a research centre at Sagar.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Hegde said the seven-year Rs. 5-crore project aimed at taking up research on horticultural produce. The Government had been asked to allot 150 acres of land for the purpose.
He said 110 acres of land at Yalavarti near Sagar under the Horticulture Department was ideal for the establishment of a research centre. Most of the agriculturists in the area had small land holdings and they could be persuaded to take up food processing and floriculture in view of good returns.

Mr. Hegde said the agriculturists could be trained in agro-related aspects such as green house processing and added that with the application of modern farming technologies, farmers could make agriculture more profitable.
Mr. Gopalakrishna promised that he would try to get the land under the Horticulture Department sanctioned for the establishment of the centre. If floriculture was encouraged, it would help in checking the migration of youths from rural areas to urban centres in search of jobs.

Mangalore-based B.A. Group, which has got formal clearance from the Board of Approvals (BoA) for the establishment of an IT SEZ (special economic zone), is planning to develop 1.5 million sq ft of IT office space at Thumbay (18 km from Mangalore) in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district.

Mr B.A. Salam, Chief Executive Officer of B.A. Tech Park, Thumbay, told Business Line that several companies have evinced interest to establish their units at the B.A. Tech Park. One of the major multinational IT companies has shown interest to become the key anchor tenant at IT SEZ.

Asked about the employment opportunities at B.A. Tech Park, Mr Salam said the project would create around 17,000 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect employment. Around Rs 600 crore would be invested in the project over a period of five years, he said.

The IT SEZ will be developed on 35 acres of land owned by the company at Thumbay village. The company is planning to develop around four million sq ft of built-up area at the SEZ. Of this, IT office space and residential space each will get around 1.5 million sq ft, followed by hospitality at 0.5 million sq ft. The company has earmarked 1 lakh sq ft each for convention centres and healthcare units. Another 3 lakh sq ft has been earmarked for retail and other utilities, he said.

He said that B.A. Tech Park has received formal approval from the BoA, and is waiting for the final notification.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/13/stories/2007081350991500.htm

KGF since its closure of world famous gold mines had lost its sheen and had been turned into a dusty and sleepy city. However, with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s announcement of creating SEZ in and arround KGF city in has breathed in a new lease of life into the city. MLA S Rajendran welcomed the announcement of the CM.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug122007/district2007081218685.asp

Bidar village gets hybrid station for streetlights.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081452940300.htm

Bidar: From now on, the sun and winds will be powering the streetlights at Kheni Ranjol in Bidar taluk and Bolegaon in Bhalki taluk. Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Ltd. has set up a demonstration unit of the hybrid power station in the villages. The Kheni Ranjol station empowers five street lights and the one in Bolegaon will supply power to three streetlights. The KREDL has put up 18 watt lamps in these streetlights. “We expect the 550 watt station will provide 12-hour power to these lights for 20 years,” says KREDL technical officer H. Naganagouda.

This is the first time in India that a hybrid power station has been set up for community use, says Dr. Naganagouda. According to him, hybrid power stations have been used in houses and government offices earlier. The unit is unique. It can produce power all the 12 months. It uses solar energy in summer and wind energy in the other months. Some people feel the solar stations do not work efficiently when sunlight is reduced. This issue is addressed in such hybrid power stations, he says.

It does not cause any pollution. The unit is fully automatic and maintenance free. It can be easily operated and can be switched off when not needed. The most important advantage is that there is no need to buy power from any agency, no need to lay cables, and there are no distribution hassles, he says. KREDL provides a 75 per cent subsidy to the unit used for public purposes or for government institutions and a 50 per cent subsidy for use in private homes. Each unit costs around Rs. 95,000 without subsidy and provides life long power.

Dairy college coming up in Gulbarga.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081452550300.htm

The Karnataka Veterinary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries University plans to start a dairy science college in Gulbarga. However, the students do not seem to be interested. Only five students have chosen a seat in the proposed college this year, and the university plans to postpone its plans by one year. The university needed at least 20 students to start a college. The university now plans to start a centre in Gulbarga to train farmers in animal husbandry. Such a centre will create awareness about the course among farmers here, said Vice-Chancellor R.N. Srinivas Gowda.

UAS to start community radio

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081453520300.htm

The University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad, will start a community radio station to help farmers in Bidar district. The Frequency Modulation Radio station will be based in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra on Janaswada Road in Bidar taluk. It will have a range of 15 to 25 kilometres. The station will broadcast programmes on agriculture, environment, health, education, community development, rural development and other sectors.

Rs. 35.9 crore to develop 32 villages.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/14/stories/2007081452960300.htm

Chitradurga: The State Government’s Suvarna Grama Yojane, which is aimed at developing villages, will be implemented in 32 villages of the district from September 1.
The Government has sanctioned Rs. 35.90 crore for the purpose. It has released Rs. 4.8 crore to the zilla panchayat to implement the scheme. The coalition Government had launched the project to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the unification of Karnataka. The Government has decided to adopt 1,000 villages in the State every year and release Rs. 1 crore for each village for its development. Schools, health centres, roads and other amenities would be provided, jobs for the youth would be given and women’s self-help groups would be formed under the scheme.

The zilla panchayat has prepared a project report based on the population of each village. Of the 32 villages, 25 would be developed by the zilla panchayat and the rest by the Karnataka Land Army Corporation. “We have prepared a project report for which technical and administration approval has been obtained. The tender process is nearing completion. The civil work would commence soon,” said an official of the zilla panchayat.

He said of the Rs. 4.8-crore released to the zilla panchayat, Rs. 15 lakh would be given to each gram panchayat in the initial stage. After obtaining utilisation certificates from the implementing agencies, the Government would release more funds in a phased manner.

An official of the zilla panchayat’s engineering department, which finalises technical aspects and the tender process, said that the department had adopted e-tender process where the implementing agencies had to submit tenders through the internet. This system had been adopted to ensure transparency, he added. The tender process would be completed by the month end.

Karnataka has identified a 15-acre plot in North Bangalore to develop a nano-technology park. The park will come up close to University of Agriculture Sciences campus in Jakkur.

The state intends to rope in private players to develop the park. The government has entrusted the task of evolving the modalities of the project to a committee headed by eminent scientist C N R Rao of the Jawarharlal Centre for Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?tab=r&autono=293990&subLeft=2&leftnm=8

Govt allots Rs 10 cr for KFDC revival.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug162007/district2007081619393.asp

State government has allotted Rs 10 crore for the revival of Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) in the present financial year, said KFDC Chairman K Lakshminarayan. Speaking after distributing free life-saving equipment to fishermen, under the joint aegis of KFDC and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPC) at Mangalore Trawl Boat Fishermen Co-operative Society auditorium here on Wednesday, he said Rs 4 crore had been released for the Corporation’s development till last March. By using that amount, the Corporation has stood up from its loss-making status. Out of Rs 10 crore reserved for the present year, Rs 5 crore is expected to be released by the end of this month, he noted. Mr Lakshminarayan assured of striving for the strengthening of the Corporation by planning new projects like the required ice plant, diesel plant and such other facilities. The KFDC’s employment potentiality should be increased by installing ice plant with advanced technology. There is also the challenge of equipping the Corporation for the ongoing competition by modernising the diesel bunks, he observed.

KIOCL pipeline may supply water for DK, Udupi.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug162007/district2007081619391.asp

“The pipeline that is now lying idle after Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) stopped mining at Kudremukh will be utilised for water supply for the twin districts from Kudremukh,” said District-in-Charge Minister B Nagaraj Shetty.

“As it is a normal scene of the City facing acute drinking water problems during dry season, the much required second vented dam at Thumbe will also be a reality soon as the government has sanctioned Rs 40 crore in-principle for the same,” Mr Shetty added. He said that considering the law and order situation and the need to beef up security, a hi-tech Police Academy will be started in Kudremukh. Apart from this, he said that the second phase of the development work of Mangalore international airport at Bajpe at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore, repair works of Shiradi Ghat roads at a cost of Rs 30 crore will also be taken up soon.

ENERGY BOWL IN NORTH KARNATAKA
Plantations may meet States energy needs.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug162007/state2007081519387.asp

It is possible to have an ‘energy bowl in north Karnataka if the 20 lakh hectares of wasteland is used for energy plantations for biomass projects, said Dr B Shivalingaiah, MD, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited. He was addressing the audience at the launch of ‘Mission 2022’ by the Indian Association of Energy Management Professionals at the CPRI on Tuesday.

The mission looks at the energy situation in the country and how to address the requirements if the nation is to be energy independent by 2022. There is only a deficit of around 2,000 MW in the State and this can easily be met by renewables. With 1,500 MW from cogeneration alone, there was still scope for an equal amount from sugarcane industries. Instead of looking at connection from the main grid, the need is for using locally available resources.

“We have shown how using animal power for two hours we can generate two KW of electricity and that is enough for an average rural household. But this needs a people's movement, a change in attitudes. It has to come from the people and government,".

Commenting on the mission statement borrowed from that of former president Kalam's vision, he noted how a requirement of electrifying all houses would mean a translation of vision to a mission.

IAEMP president S K Sood spoke about the difference between energy security and energy independence. “Energy independence is what looks at many more aspects like energy efficiency, renewable energy and conservation. In our mission theme we have mostly combined existing policies.” CPRI director P K Kagnolkar spoke about the energy conservation activities undertaken by CPRI which conducts energy audits for government bodies. He spoke about the various research activities on power at CPRI to which he welcomed universities and students.

SWR to lay thrust on infrastructure

TOI epaper

There will be greater thrust on infrastructure development in South Western Railway as the zone has been sanctioned Rs. 834 crore to undertake development projects, Divisional Railway Manager of SWR Bangalore, Mahesh Mangal has said.

Bangalore will have electronic coach guiding systems on all platforms at the City and Yeshwantpur railway stations and 21 touch screen kiosks will be installed to provide train related enquiries, said divisional railway manager (DRM) Mahesh Mangal, on Wednesday. Speaking at the Independence Day celebrations, Mangal said the Rs 834 crore has been sanctioned for the South Western Railway (SWR), an increase of 63 per cent over the previous year’s outlay.
Platforms in the City Railway Station were cleaned on the occasion of Independence Day and as part of the fortnight-long sanitation campaign. Mangal said work on doubling of tracks between Yeshwantpur-Tumkur and Kengeri-Ramanagaram were at an advanced stage. Work on a new line from Tumkur to Rayadurga, electrification of line from Ramanagaram to Mysore and a new line from Prashanti Nilayam to Kadiri have been sanctioned, he added. The frequency of the weekly Yeshwantpur-Kannur Express has been increased to make it a tri-weekly service. Banks will also provide 45 ATMs along with a facility to purchase unreserved tickets henceforth.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081654240500.htm

Mangalore development updates.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081659180300.htm

MANGALORE: Work on the second vented dam across the Nethravati at Thumbay near Mangalore should begin by the first week of December 2007, said district in-charge Minister B. Nagaraja Shetty here on Wednesday.

At a meeting held to review the development schemes being implemented by Mangalore City Corporation, Mr. Shetty directed officials to keep the relevant papers ready for submitting to the Government. Mr. Shetty, who expressed dismay about the slow progress on the second vented dam, said the Government had already cleared the Rs. 40-crore project, but the design of the dam had not been submitted by the corporation.

At a time when Mangalore was poised for higher growth, the city should not be faced with a water shortage. Giving details, the commissioner of the corporation said two designs were ready with them but there were some cost differences. The construction of the dam would take not less than two years, the commissioner said.

Mr. Shetty wanted the concreting of the Circuit House-Airport Road stretch, up to Malavoor Bridge, to be completed quickly. This would speed up the development of the second stage of the international airport.

The Government would spend Rs. 200 crore on the second stage work, including a parallel runway and other facilities. On the development of other roads, Mr. Shetty said nine arterial roads would be developed at a cost of Rs. 56 crore, which included Bejai Church to Basaveshwara Ciricle in Kadri (four-lane concrete), Kulur-Kavoor Main Road ( four-lane concrete), KSRTC Junction to Kavoor Junction (four-lane bituminous tarmac), Pandeshwara level-crossing to Morgan’s Gate and Morgan’s Gate to Saint Rita’s School (two-way bituminous tarmac), Bunts Hostel to PVS Circle (concrete road) and PVS Circle to Navbharath Circle (four-lane paver finished road), Hampankatta signal to U.P. Mallya Road (four-lane concrete), Kankanady Karavali Circle to Father Muller Circle (four-lane concrete), Court ward Bauta Gudda to Tagore Park to Ambedkar Circle (four-lane concrete), and Nanthoor Circle to Kadri Pump House (four-lane concrete) are the main projects to be taken up immediately.

Investors’ meet for development of IT park soon in Belgaum.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081652930300.htm

Belgaum: Minister for Horticulture and district in charge Shashikant A. Naik announced that an exclusive investors’ meet for development of the proposed information technology (IT) park in Belgaum would be held in the city soon. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of 60th Independence Day celebrations at district stadium here on Wednesday, he said the Government had already identified 109 acres of land to develop the IT park. Also, another 60 acres of land had been identified to develop a textile park.

In view of a large number of farmers switching over to grape farming in the northern parts of the district, the Government was considering a proposal for establishing a wine park in Athani. Mr. Naik said he was also pursuing the matter with the Government for early sanction of the park, which would give tremendous boost to grape production and agricultural economy of the district.

The Minister pointed out that horticultural activities in the State were on the rise due to irrigational facilities. The Government had facilitated drip irrigation to 29,000 hectares for horticultural crops. It spent nearly Rs. 72 crore benefiting over 25,000 horticulturists all over the State. The Government had formulated a new wine policy and established Wine Board to encourage grape production. Steps had been taken to establish horticulture university in Bagalkot and a horticulture college in Bidar

Infrastructure in Bijapur to be improved.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/16/stories/2007081653070300.htm

BIJAPUR: Minister for Textiles Appasaheb Pattanashetti said here on Wednesday that a sum of Rs. 48 crore would be spent to improve civic infrastructure, including the drainage system in Bijapur. Addressing a public gathering after unfurling the National Flag in the district stadium, he said the funds were being provided under the North Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Project aided by the Asian Development Bank.

He said a Rs. 55-crore comprehensive plan aimed at strengthening the water distribution network had been submitted to the Union Government, for which approval was awaited. Mr. Pattanashetti said the mini-Vidhana Soudha would be built near the zilla panchayat office at a cost of Rs. 6 crore. Tenders worth Rs. 2 crore for construction had already been called.

He said here on Wednesday that a project aimed at filling minor irrigations tanks pumping water from the Krishna would be launched soon. The first phase will be taken at a cost of Rs. 86 crore.
He said survey work on the second phase of the project would be started on the occasion. Also, the much awaited canal construction of the Guttibasavanna Lift Irrigation Scheme beyond the 97-km stretch would be launched.

Referring to the proposed airport at Buranpur near here, Mr. Pattanashetti said the process of land acquisition had commenced. It would be constructed in partnership with a private company. As many as four companies, including one belonging to the TATA group, had evinced interest in the project, he added.

Nod for Rayadurg-Tumkur railway line.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug172007/national2007081719630.asp

DH News Service, New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday night approved the Railway Ministry’s proposal to lay a new railway line connecting Rayadurg to Tumkur in Karnataka at a cost of Rs 887 crore. The decision to this effect was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 213-km long Rayadurg Tumkur railway line is proposed to be completed by 2011-12, FM P Chidambaram told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting.

Yatri Nivas planned in Bidar.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081755361000.htm

Bidar: The State Government will build a Yatri Nivas at the Narsimha Zarni cave temple on the outskirts of Bidar. The State Government will spend Rs. 1.3 crore on building a lodging, a toilet complex, and a road to the temple. These works will be financed by a grant by the Department of Endowments, Agriculture Minister and district in-charge Bandeppa Kashempur said in Bidar on Thursday. The temple is managed by the district administration now. The place of worship attracted people from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. However, facilities for the visitors were lacking and there were no lodgings in the temple premises. The Minister thanked V.M. David, Managing Director of Hatti Gold Mines Ltd., for overhauling the air blower inside the cave, free of cost. “The company has gifted us equipment and materials worth Rs. 2 lakh,” the Minister said. A technical team of the company had camped in Bidar and completed the work in 36 days. It had replaced the air carrying zinc pipes with non-corrosive high density plastic pipes.

Railway Minister to to discuss pending projects.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081755591100.htm

GULBARGA: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has said that during his scheduled visit to Bangalore in September first week along with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways Basudeb Acharia all the pending issues pertaining to the development of the Railways in the State would be discussed for finding a permanent solution.

State secretariat member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Maruti Manpade told presspersons here on Thursday that Mr. Prasad himself gave this assurance to a delegation led by FKCCI President S.S. Patil, members of the Gulbarga Central University Establishment Action Committee, in which Mr. Manpade was a member, in New Delhi on August 13 and 14.

He said the delegation raised several issues, including the pending railway projects, creation of new railway division and reorganisation of the Railway zones with the Minister and Mr Acharia. Mr. Manpade said the delegation, which met Mr. Acharia, appraised him of several pending projects, including the Gulbarga-Bidar and introduction of new trains from Gulbarga to Bangalore.

Mr. Acharia, who heard the team, said the Standing Committee on the Railways would take a serious note of the pending railway projects in the State. He said the committee was seized of the matter of reorganisation of the railway zones and redrawing the borders of jurisdictional areas. He said that Mr. Acharia had convened a meeting of the general manager of the South Western Railways with the representatives of the FKCCI and CPI(M) in Bangalore on August 18 where all issues pertaining to the pending projects would be discussed.

Company to be formed to widen highway.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/17/stories/2007081760650300.htm

MANGALORE: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding soon on the NMPT’s 10 per cent equity share contribution in the New Mangalore Port Road Company Ltd. (NMPRCL), a special purpose vehicle for widening the national highway stretch from B.C. Road to Surathkal, according to official sources.

The NMPT has agreed to contribute Rs. 19.65 crore for the four-lane work between Surathkal on NH 17 and B.C. Road on NH 48 through NMPRCL, sources told The Hindu. The NHAI has already taken up the four-lane work through IRCON Intern ational Ltd., a public sector enterprise.

Once the works are completed, NMPRCL will also be responsible for the maintenance of this stretch. Sources said that the Board of the NMPT had agreed to contribute its share for the four-lane work. Sources said that delay on the part of the Mangalore City Corporation in shifting the water supply line along the highway had resulted in slow progress of work at many stretches between Surathkal and B.C. Road.

Small industries seek 2,000 acres of land near Bangalore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/18/stories/2007081854240400.htm

Bangalore: The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) has urged the Government to allot 2,000 acres of land on the outskirts of Bangalore to enable small industries sector to create new industrial estates. KASSIA president M.C.R. Shetty told presspersons here on Friday that majority of KASSIA members had been constrained to operate outside the existing industrial estates due to non-availability of land, building and industrial sheds.

Even the rentals of buildings and sheds had gone up owing to escalating real estate business. In the light of these developments, only the creation of new industrial estates could provide some solutions to the persisting problems of small industrialists. The Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation had sought 460 acres of land from the Government. KASSIA wanted to develop industrial estates in association with the KSSIDC. There were reports that an estimated 40 private industrial clusters had been operating in and around Bangalore.

This had been resulted in congestion and left no space for expansion. Considering the overall situation and the future of small industries, the Government should exclusively earmark 40 per cent of any land converted for industrial purposes for the small industrial sector by providing plots in four slots beginning 2500 sq. ft. to 10,000 sq. ft. Mr. Shetty said.

MP to lead team to Delhi to seek new train service.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/18/stories/2007081853230300.htm

Madikeri: State BJP president and Mangalore-Kodagu MP D.V. Sadananda Gowda said here on Friday that he would lead a delegation of MPs, MLAs and MLCs from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to New Delhi to meet Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and officials of the Railways to press for introduction of Hassan-Mangalore-Bangalore passenger line.

He disclosed this at an interaction with presspersons here organised by the Press Club. Two MPs each from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, 11 MLAs and three MLCs would be part of the delegation. The meeting with the Railway Minister and Railway Board officials would be on August 21. The Centre should honour the wishes of the people of the two districts, Mr. Gowda said.

If the authorities did not respond to the demands of the people to introduce the passenger line, steps would be taken to stop all trains originating from Mangalore to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other cities, Mr. Gowda said. He said that he had assured of rail links to Kodagu as well and that he would take up the issue during his meeting in Delhi.

Shimoga railway station renovation work begins.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/18/stories/2007081853290300.htm

SHIMOGA: The Shimoga railway station is being renovated at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. Two platforms will be widened, a computerized ticket booking centre, air conditioned and non-air conditioned rest rooms, spacious canteen and office rooms will be built at the railway station.

The old buildings are being demolished razed. A provision has been made for parking zones for two-wheelers and four wheelers at the entrance to the railway station. General Manager of South Western Railway Zone Praveen Kumar said that the old railway station at Vidyanagar would also be renovated. He said that the construction of the railway over-bridge on Shimoga-Honnali road near the railway station would commence soon as the State Government had released the matching grant for it.

Mr. Praveen Kumar said that the Railways would consider building a 100-foot road near the railway station if a proposal was submitted to it. Mr. Praveen Kumar said that the request for introducing the Shimoga-Bangalore Inter City Train was being considered seriously. He revealed it at the meeting with the representatives of the Shimoga District Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Praveen Kumar said that the delay in the introduction of the Inter City was due to the non availability of the track.

He said that the work on the gauge conversion between Shimoga and Talaguppa was expected to be completed up to Anandapuram by June 2008 with the allocation of a higher allocation of funds and the remaining part of the work would be completed soon.

Mr. Praveen Kumar said that though the Railways was aware of the importance of extending the railway line from Talaguppa to Honnawar to link it with the Konkan Railway, it was not possible as it had been found difficult to get clearance from the Forest Department. Clearance from the department was needed to clear the forest in the region to implement the project, Mr. Praveen Kumar said. He, however, said that the initial survey of the project was under way.

Mr. Praveen Kumar said that a proposal had been sent to the Railways to conduct a survey on the viability of laying a new rail line between Shimoga and Harihar.

Kodagu gets Wildlife Veterinary Institute.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug192007/district2007081820040.asp

The State government has sanctioned a Wildlife Veterinary Institute to conduct research on conservation and various treatment for wild life animals which are on the verge of being extinct.
The institution was announced in 2006-07 budget and accordingly the government has released a sum of Rs 2 crore for the establishment of the institution. University of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary and Fisheries Sciences (Bidar) Officer Dr S Nagaraj has been appointed as the Special Officer for the institution by the government.
Nearly 54 acres of land in Chikkaluvar in Somwarpet taluk has been identified for the setting up of the institution and the Special Officer has already visited the site. Government has also approved a centre for the Artificial insemination on a land belonging to Department of Animal Husbandry at Modalapura near Kudige. The centre has been provided with Rs 7 lakh and a sum of Rs 15 lakh will be released soon. The Department of Animal Husbandry has also chalked out plans to provide financial support of about Rs 10 lakh to individuals or NGOs which have been conserving the indigenous cattle species.

high tech dairy to open at Koodige

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug192007/district2007081820041.asp

The processing unit of the dairy which was modernised at a cost of Rs 3 core by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and which enjoys the credit of being the first dairy to be opened in the State will be inaugurated by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday.
High quality milk will be distributed in Kodagu area through the dairy which comes under the jurisdiction of Hassan Milk Federation. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Federation Manager B P Ranganath said new products including curd, butter milk, ghee, sweets and other high quality milk products will be produced. Due to the efforts of State Milk Federation President H D Revanna, NDDB granted Rs 265.32 lakh in short-term loan, while Rs 39 lakh was extended by Hassan Milk Union for modernisation of the dairy, informed Mr Ranganath. With the upgradation of the freezing capacity, over 5,000 to 25,000 litres of milk can be freezed, while packing capacity will increase from 3,000 to 50,000 litres.

Small industries facing major problems in City.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug192007/state2007081920104.asp

About 3,55,000 micro, small and medium industries run across Karnataka and around 73,000 in Bangalore. These industries contributed to Rs 33,000 crore out of Rs 82,280 crore of the total export from the state in 2005-06, according to Karnataka Small Scale Industries Association (KASSIA) sources.
But, in Bangalore, SSIs have big problems. Most of the problems are related to lack of basic infrastructural facilities.
Almost 90 per cent of SSIs operate outside the industrial estates, said M C R Shetty, President of KASSIA. Forty private industrial clusters were operating in and around Bangalore and facing problems of congestion, Technical Consultancy Services Organisation of Karnataka (TECSOK) reported in 2002.
Due to non availability/ high prices of land, it has become difficult to run an industry or to expand an existing industry in the industrial area. The Government has not constructed any industrial estate after Peenya Industrial Area.
Kamakshipalya, Sunkadakatte, Andhrahalli, Doddanna industrial estate, Kammagundanahalli and Magadi Road are the major private industrial hubs. The roads (if any) to the factories in all these areas are in a bad shape.
The industries don’t avail adequate and uninterrupted power supply. Bangalore Electricity Supply company (BESCOM) asks for three months’ electricity bill in advance, said K Jayaraj Pai, Owner of Ashirvad Engineers, an SSI. The seasonal industries need to pay the electricity bill for the whole year even if they operate only for a few months, said Arvind N Burji, Vice President of KASSIA. The private industries entirely depend upon borewell water and the whole area stinks due to lack of drainage facility.
“We can’t let our overseas clients visit our premises. They will have doubts about the quality of our products, if they witness the unhygienic conditions and inadequate facilities here,” complained many entrepreneurs.
“We pay property, income, service and excise taxes, apart from ESI and PF,” said A Vijayendranath, Owner of Machine Tool Corporation. SSIs are ready to pay more taxes if they get good infrastructural facilities in return, he added.
KASSIA’S DEMANDS :
*KASSIA has requested State government to allot 2,000 acres of government land to create new industrial estates. KASSIA has also requested the government to allot 40 per cent of any industrial converted land to small scale industries.
*SSIs oppose trade licence. Since SSIs are registered with Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (KSSIDC), they say they have licence to operate.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug192007/district2007081820008.asp
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his deputy B S Yediyurappa will lay the foundation stone for the Yaragol Drinking Water Project, costing around Rs 240 crore on August 24 in Kolar.
This was stated by MLA K Srinivasagowda who appealed for large public attendance, cutting across party lines.
In a chat with reporters at Adima Kuteera atop Terahalli Betta, the MLA recalled that during his tenure as the minister in charge of the district, he had undertaken site inspection for the project and got the Water Board to conduct a survey on its feasibility.
By implementing this project it is possible to supply drinking water to Kolar, Bangarpet, KGF and Malur, Mr Gowda opined.
Continuing, the MLA also said that he had given a sum of Rs two lakh from the MLA’s fund while the MLAs of Bangarpet, KGF and Malur had given Rs one lakh each.
Moreover, the chief minister had assured of implementing the Yaragol Project while inaugurating the Paragodu Project.
Now, his words are being put into action, the MLA said and expressed gratitude for the same.
Funds
The Union Government will be giving Rs 80 crore while the State Government had allotted Rs 160 crore in the budget and had released Rs 50 crore.
The Water Board has assured of completing the project in 18 months, thereby solving the drinking water problem of the people in the area.
“Water is available here only if tanks and lakes are filled up in the region. With the present drought condition, water is scarce,” the Member of Legislative Assembly admitted.
Mr Gowda was of the opinion that the implementation of the Bruhat Bangalore Scheme as well as the Nandagudi Special Economic Zone would bring Kolar closer to the capital. He however requested farmers of the region not to sell their land away.
Drinking water
The MLA contended that importance had been given to the city’s sewerage system as well as drinking water problem and added that both S M Krishna and H D Kumaraswamy were instrumental in implementing several schemes in this regard.
Mr Gowda also requested the public not to pay heed to the rumour that the military would clear Terahalli Betta.
The Member of Legislative Assembly pointed out that more developmental works had been taken up in the city during his tenure after the time of T Channaiah. Some people criticise that no such thing has happened.
But those people should first contend with the CoD probe, he chided.
Amount released
Speaking on the Netravathi Project, Srinivasagowda said that the government had released amount for survey work.
Special plan
At the same time, a special plan of Rs 100 crore was being formulated at the Centre to develop the Shatashrunga Parvata under which forestation will be taken up; roads, ring road and temple will also be developed, he added.

WI-MAX TO BE LAUNCHED ON PILOT BASIS
Come Oct, City will go wireless.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug192007/scroll2007081920082.asp?section=frontpagenews

The much-awaited Wi-MAX, an initiative of the IT and BT department, is expected to be launched on a pilot basis in October first week, covering areas between the Vidhana Soudha and Trinity Circle, State IT&BT secretary M N Vidyashankar said here on Saturday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the valedictory function of a national workshop on ‘Wireless Communications’, Vidyashankar said the areas covered by the project are the Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, Vittal Mallya Road, Kasturba Road and MG Road. The pilot project will cover an area of five square kilometres.

Wi-MAX, or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless access to data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. Based on the feedback from industry and people, the project would be further extended in a big manner to cover the entire Bangalore. “This would be completed in a span of 18 months. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 400 crore as the technology is expensive,’’ he said. The department was supposed to launch Wi-MAX programme covering the entire City in April this year. But the project was halted after the constitution of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

“Earlier, the approximate area to be covered under Wi-MAX was 229 sq kms but after BBMP was constituted, the area size increased nearly three-fold, touching 741 square kilometres. Hence, the project could not be implemented,’’ Vidyashankar said. The technology used for the Wi-MAX is IEEE 802.168 2005. During the project implementation, base stations would be set up depending on the ranges, with a minimum coverage over an area of five square kilometres

Government promises support to small industries.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/21/stories/2007082152780400.htm

Bangalore: The State Government has assured small industries that henceforth 25 per cent of the land set apart for industrial development would be allotted to small-scale industries.

A direction to this effect would be issued to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB), and to begin with the Department of Small Scale Industries would pay up Rs. 50 crore to KIADB. This was one of the important decisions taken at an interactive meeting organised with the representatives of the small-scale industries at the Secretariat here on Monday.

Briefing presspersons after the meeting, Minister for Small Industries Shivananda Naik said that the Government was also scouting for land adjoining Bangalore for the development of small industries. The small industrialists in the congested Rajajinagar and Magadi Road areas, in particular, were seeking land on the outskirts of the city since the land in these old industrial areas were being put to other uses following the big escalation in land costs.

Representatives of the Karnataka Association of Small Scale Industries (KASSIA), who attended the meeting, urged the Government to allocate at least 40 per cent of the KIADB developed lands to small industries. The KIADB should hand over the land to the Karnataka Small Scale Industries Development Corporation which in turn could allot the land to the small entrepreneurs. A plea was also made to provide adequate funds for the upkeep of the existing industrial areas.

With reference to the long pending demand of quick payment of the small industry subsidy, Mr. Naik assured the small industrialists that the Government would clear all the dues over the next one year. While Rs. 100 crore of subsidy amount had been cleared over the past one year, another Rs. 70 crore would be released shortly. The balance of Rs. 214 crore would be paid over the next one year. The Government had withheld the payment of subsidy for a few years owing to several serious complaints, including several industries which had merely existed on paper only to collect the subsidy component.

He also assured the small industries that the Government would organise an annual round-table conference with the small industrialists to sort out their grievances. Meanwhile, a three-member ministerial team would leave for New Delhi on Tuesday to call on Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, T.R. Baalu, and the Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad and seek a better deal for the coastal districts. They would also seek a special allocation of funds to repair the roads damaged in the recent rains in all the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi.

Karnataka inks energy pact.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bangalore/Karnataka_inks_energy_pact/articleshow/2296479.cms

BANGALORE: Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) plans to add 1,500 MW of power to the state power grid through renewable energy sources by the end of the 11th five-year-plan of the state.

At a MoU signing between Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and KREDL on Monday, officials said, additional power can be added to the state grid from resources in Karnataka and ongoing projects of KREDL. The MoU was signed in presence of Science and Technology Minister Ramachandra Gowda, PFC senior official M K Goel and KREDL MD B Shivalingaiah.

Science City to be established soon in Bangalore

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082257870400.htm

Bangalore: The Science City planned in the vicinity of Bangalore will become a reality shortly, according to Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda.

Briefing presspersons about the State-level Science and Technology Sammelan being organised here on Thursday, Mr. Gowda said the Science City would be built a cost of Rs. 75 crore on Bannerghatta Road. The Government had provided nearly 100 acres of land, and the details of the project were now being finalised.

The Minister, along with Karnataka Science and Technology Academy Chairman U.R. Rao, said the State Government was doing its best to promote science at all levels despite the fact that there was a shortage of science teachers. Karnataka was the only State in the country that had a State-run Science and Technology Academy, which was started in July 2005. As part of the sammelan, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, C.N.R. Rao, Chairman of the Technology Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, and U.R. Rao will be honoured.

Nod for four mega food parks in State.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082257500300.htm

GULBARGA: Agriculture Minister Bandappa Kashampur on Tuesday said the Union Government, in principle, had agreed to sanction four mega food parks to the State and added that the State Government had started preparing detailed estimates of the project to be submitted to the Centre.

Mr. Kashampur told presspersons here that the Centre would invest Rs. 50 crore in each food park. The State Government had not finalised the locations of the proposed parks, he said and added that in all likelihood, these parks would be distributed over the four revenue divisions of the State. He said that the State Government had started reviewing the progress made in existing food parks sanctioned by the Union Government.

To a question, Mr. Kashampur said that the Government had, in principle, decided to establish the third agriculture university at Raichur and that the issue was informally discussed by the Chief Minister and his colleagues. A detailed proposal in this regard would be brought before the State Cabinet shortly for approval. The Government was committed to upgrade research and development activity at the Agriculture Research Station in Gulbarga with special focus on research on red gram, which is the staple crop of the region, he said.

Deadline set for Mysore projects

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082257610300.htm

MYSORE: Major projects envisaged to beef up city infrastructure under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) came under review and a timeline was set to implement them. A high-level official meeting held here on Tuesday discussed the various projects that had been taken up or sanctioned by the Government and a deadline set to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for 20 projects within three months.

Meanwhile, two major projects that had a bearing on the quality of life of the public – overhauling the drinking water distribution network and improvements to slums – would be taken up within a month. The projects for which the DPRs were submitted to the Union Government last year had been accorded sanction and the funds had been approved to take them up under the JNNURM.

While overhauling and remodelling of the water distribution network would be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.198 crore, improvements to the slums had been sanctioned Rs.50 crore and the work on these two projects would be taken up on priority within a month and would be completed within the stipulated time. A senior official from the Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB), which was the nodal agency for taking up the work, assured the authorities chairing the meet that there would be no delay in implementing the projects.

When completed, the remodelled network would enhance the efficiency of water distribution and was expected to mitigate the drinking water scarcity that plagues the city. Officials said though Mysore was endowed with sufficient water resources, the distribution network was faulty and hence there was an artificial scarcity through gross inefficiency.

But this was expected to change once the remodelled network was in place. The officials present at the meeting, included Principal Secretary for Urban Development K. Jotiramalingam, Tourism Commissioner C. Somashekar, Heritage Commissioner A. Venkatesh Machaknur and Deputy Commissioner S. Selvakumar. Two new projects in the pipeline under the JNNURM, included the development of Mysore and street light automation for which the DPR was getting ready.

Brain science centre to come up in City.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug232007/state2007082320871.asp

India’s first brain sciences centre for forensic application will be commissioned in Bangalore early next month.

The Centre for Brain Sciences for Forensics (CBSF), directly under the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs, will be housed in the campus of State Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore. It will have the latest technology and will cover all the specialised fields on brain sciences as applied to forensics.

“It will be a highly specialised and technical centre with the latest know how and state-of-the-art equipment. As of now, there’s no one facility for conducting brain mapping, polygraph and narco analysis tests. We have to take the subjects out to government hospitals for conducting these tests. This institute will have all facilities to conduct these and other specialised tests, including electro encephalograph (EEG) and event related potential (ERP),” said Dr B M Mohan, director, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

EEG is a mode of recording electrical activity of the brain and ERP is a scientific process through which information about a specific information, in which a person may have participated is retrieved.

“The brain stores the memory of any event in which a person may have participated, it may be social or criminal. Through ERP we can get that information. It’s a great help in the investigation of crime,” said the forensic specialist. He added that the centre will also have facilities for conducting neuro biological applications. “If a person is an addict, he may suffer some psychological impairment. Through the neuro-biological applications, we can find out the extent of the impairment,” he added.

The CBSF will be commissioned soon after the first meeting of the advisory body headed by Dr Sharat Chandra, former director, Indian Institute for Science, said Director and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka, K R Sreenivasan. “The meeting is scheduled to be held on Sept 4,” he added. The centre will thereafter start taking cases from all over India.

For the Centre 15 posts have been sanctioned and the process of recruitment is already on. “After some time, we will consider integrating all these tests with functional MRI related to forensics. We will also have a transit facility for people coming from outside Bangalore, in judicial custody, for the tests. We get only the accused here and there’s no facility to accommodate them,” said Dr Mohan.

Along with the brain sciences centre, the FSL is also upgrading the DNA centre. “As of now we don’t have any facility for DNA printing. We send material to the DNA centre in Hyderabad. With the upgradation of our facility we will start conducting DNA tests here,” said Mr Sreenivasan.

Byappanahalli to have third railway terminal and a RAY OF HOPE for Blore-Mlore Train service.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug232007/state2007082320886.asp

If there can be a third railway terminal to connect the IT city with other major metros, with extra trains, it can be at Byappanahalli.
Hardly five days after the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Railways Basudeb Acharia emphasised upon the need for a third terminal in Bangalore, during an interaction meet, the railway officials began zeroing in upon the place, which is suitable for it.
The General Manager of South Western Railway Praveen Kumar while talking to media persons said, “We are conceptualising a new terminal, which would be developed at Byapanahalli,” he said.
The base to develop the third terminal at Byappannahalli is that there is already a yard with ‘self-contained coaching terminal’, which means there are all facilities available to start the train, like washing the train and filling water in the tanks of the coaches.
Rs 65 cr budget
The vast space available at this yard makes it suitable to develop six platforms where 32 to 35 new trains can be received and dispatched in a day.
Initial budget proposal is of Rs 65 crores.
However, Praveen Kumar believed that the estimated amount is not sufficient to develop the terminal.

RAY OF HOPE

There seems to be a ray of hope at the end of dark tunnel between Mangalore and Bangalore.
The South Western Railway officials are prepared to run an overnight express train and the possible date could be October 2, said sources in the SW Railways.
When the SWR GM Praveen Kumar was asked he said, we haven’t decided the date yet but we are ready to run an express train. He said, the SWR is gearing up to run at least five pairing trains a week between Bangalore and Mangalore.
He admitted that the landsliding is posing a big threat to the project and had compelled to extend the date to launch passenger trains in this route. He said, there is great business potential if passenger trains are started.

Cabinet clears proposal for Petrochem Complex.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug232007/state2007082320958.asp?section=updatenews

Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal to construct a Petro Chemical Complex near Mangalore with an investment of Rs 3,590 crore to create a job potential for over one million people.

Briefing newspersons here after the cabinet meeting, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S Horatti said the project, to be completed by 2026, was expected to come up in a 300 km radius, in dry land and less populated area. Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa too had submitted their proposals to the Centre for similar project, he revealed saying that the state would send its proposal at the earliest.

He said the cabinet also decided to set up a four-member official committee on the formation of new taluks and was expected to submit its report within six months. The cabinet also approved construction of 'Suvarna Vidhana Soudha' in Belgaum at a cost of Rs 230 crore. Construction works would begin within a week and the government would release Rs 70 crore this year. The cabinet had decided to increase the intake of seats in various new medical, dental and other professional colleges from 2008-09.

KSFC to develop steel park at Koppal.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug252007/state2007082521391.asp?section=updatenews

State owned Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC) is actively considering to set up a steel park at Koppal, Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced on Saturday.

Speaking to newsmen here he said a detailed project report was being prepared to set up the park aimed at adding value to the iron ore available abundantly in the area, so that the finished product got more value in the international market. The park would come up in 190 acres land and steps were already initiated to acquire the land required for the purpose. The report was expected to reach the KSFC in another three months, he revealed.

He said the KSFC had also taken up infrastructure development projects and had decided to set up industrial parks involving 25 acres in Mysore and ten acres in Harohalli.

Jupiter Aviation to build Hassan airport.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/26/stories/2007082659830400.htm


BANGALORE: Foundation stones of an airport in Hassan and a Suvarna Karnataka Vidhana Soudha in Belgaum will be laid on Sunday.

Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Private Ltd. (JAL), established in 2005 by Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekar, will execute work on the airport. Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna told presspersons here on Saturday that the commissioning of the airport in Hassan would trigger economic growth and generate employment in the region.

JAL has signed a collaboration agreement with France-based ESMA and EADS Services for setting up aviation training schools in four places in the country. The first one is likely to be established at Hassan. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Thales and Air Australia for the setting up of a civil aviation academy, which might come up at Hassan, JAL sources said.

The passenger capacity of the airport will be 10 million and cargo handling will be two million tonnes by 2030. JAL was committed to investing over Rs. 1,350 crore in the next three years, sources said.

Gadag-Solapur rail line to be ready by January 08.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/26/stories/2007082652320300.htm


HUBLI: General manager of South Western Railway (SWR) Praveen Kumar has said that steps will be taken to make Gadag-Solapur section open for rail traffic by January 2008. He told this to a delegation of Karnataka Development Forum, led by its president Patil Puttappa, which met him on Friday. Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Puttappa said the general manager had informed them that there was no dearth of funds for the project and the State Government had released its share for it.

Mysore Airport to be ready by October 2009.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug262007/state2007082621580.asp?section=updatenews


Mysore Airport will be ready for operation by October 2009, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation Joint Secretary K N Srivatsava said on Sunday.

Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the works at Mandakali Airport, near here, he said that the works were expected to be completed by January 2009 and after trail run and testing the runway it would be ready for operation by Dasara Festivities in 2009.

He said that in the first phase of works two run ways of 1740 meters and 1350 meters would be prepared to facilitate operation of both small and big aircraft. Technical Block cum control tower, fire station, parking lot and electricity sub station would also be taken up in the first phase of works. The airport would be developed in 416 acres of land.

Karnataka Infrastructure Development Principal Secretary V P Baligar, who accompanied AAI officials during inspection, said that it was proposed to develop 12 airports in the State and Mysore Airport was on the priority list. Mysore Airport would be developed into full fledged airport and additional 500 acres of land would be acquired and handed over to the AAI for building bigger runways to accommodate bigger aircraft.

PCPIR to cover 74,131 acres land.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug272007/district2007082621654.asp

L & T and Ramboll Consulting Engineers Limited have prepared a conceptual master plan for the 300 sq km extent of Mangalore Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) and the final pre-feasibility report has been cleared in the Cabinet, said Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Ltd Chairman N Yogish Bhat.

Addressing a press meet here on Sunday, he said PCPIR will come up in a total of 74,131 acres of land. The first phase of PCPIR (2008-2014) will deal with the establishment of MSEZ with feed stock from MRPL. The existing projects like MCFL with its proposed expansion projects will be part of this phase. About 550 acres of news sites for industrial projects is also proposed in this phase.

In the second phase (2015 to 2020), a total of 28,441 acres of land will be utilised. The contiguous land has been identified for processing area. This will develop into Petrochemical and Chemical cluster. Pharma and fertiliser sector have also been identified for development in this phase. By the commencement of the third phase (2021-2026), the region would have well established with infrastructure and would enable PCPIR expansion beyond the core hub formed by Phase 1 and II. In the third phase, a total of 22,228 acres of land will be utilised.

Mr Bhat informed that the total project cost for providing external linkage (national highway, state highway, power, water supply, telecome, Padubidri port) to PCPIR is estimated to be Rs 46 billion. It has been proposed to increase NMPT’s current capacity of 38 MMTPA to 60 MMTPA in a span of next few years at an estimated cost of Rs 6846 crore. An all weather port is proposed at Padubidri for handling handling large cargo generated from the PCPIR. He said that the total demand for water for PCPIR would be 641 MLD per day. This will include industrial process water, domestic water, fire extinguishing, green belt maintenance etc. It has been proposed to source water from Gurpura and Mulki rivers for the new developments in PCPIR.

The establishment of PCPIR will make DK an economic capital of the state. DK will get Rs one lakh crore investment with the PCPIR and will provide employment opportunity for 10 lakh people over 15 years time. Majority of the identified land for PCPIR is a waste land, he added. He also informed that KSIIDC has been appointed as the nodal agency. Though five states are competing for PCPIR, we are hopeful of getting it sanctioned from the Centre.

Lack of political will, poor allocation affecting Solapur-Gadag rail project.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/27/stories/2007082751390300.htm

BIJAPUR: Even after 14 years, the project remains incomplete, thanks to lack of political will and poor allocation to the project in successive railway budgets. It is one among the eight gauge conversion projects planned by South Central Railway (SCR) during the Eighth Five Year Plan. The target for gauge conversion in the SCR limits was 2,400 km during the period. Other projects such as Bellary-Raydurg-Hospet-Mormugao, Miraj-Londa, Bolarum- Secunderabad-Dronachellam, Guntur-Guntkal, Tirupati-Katpadi and Manmad-Aurangabad- Adilabad were completed long ago.

The gauge conversion project was taken up to give a fillip to agriculture and industrial activities in this drought-prone region. Besides, to promote tourism as the line connects heritage sites in Bijapur, Badami, Aihole, Pattagkal and Koodalasangama with rest of the country. Further, it will provide the region a direct rail link with Bangalore and help decongest crowded routes such as Chennai-Mumbai and Bangalore-Mumbai via Raichur, Wadi and Gulburga, and Hubl-Mumbai via Miraj.

SWR is executing the project as a joint venture with the State Government. The delay in commissioning the project has led to cost escalation. The cost of the project, which was Rs. 265 crore, has crossed Rs. 400 crore. While the 100-km line between Hotgi and Bijapur was converted into a broadgauge in 1998, the work on Bijapur-Bagalkot line was completed last year. The work on Bagalkot-Gadag section is under way.

SWR has made arrangements for procuring inputs such as rails and sleepers. The SWR authorities have been asserting that the work will be completed by October 2007. However, sources in SWR said the deadline was unrealistic as a bridge across the Malaprabha near Holealur was likely to be ready only by February next. According to the earlier schedule, SWR had planned to dismantle the narrow-gauge line by September to facilitate broadgauge work.

Inland water transport between Alamatti and Hipparagi dams planned.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/27/stories/2007082751600300.htm

BIJAPUR: The State Government is planning to introduce inland water transport in the backwaters of the Alamatti dam across the Krishna. According to the plan, apart from transporting goods, tourist-centric boating on the lines of the model followed in Kerala will be introduced.

Alamatti backwaters stretch up to the Hipparagi barrage, 25 km upstream. The reservoir has submerged many low-lying bridges across the river and has scope for inland water transport. Many sugar factories have come all along the reservoir and they can make use of the new facility. Sources told The Hindu that RITES, survey and planning wing of the Railways, had submitted a “positive” tech-economic feasibility survey that was discussed in a high-level official meeting held in Alamatti on Saturday.

The RITES representatives made a presentation of the project. Capt. Mohan, Director of Ports and Inland Water Transport; Sudeer Krishnna, Principal Secretary of Public Works Department; V.S. Shridhar, General Manager of Ports and Water resources Wing of RITES; V.B. Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Bijapur; G.N. Nayak, Deputy Commissioner of Bagalkot; H. Shivshankar, Chief Engineer of Alamatti Dam Zone; V.K. Potdar, Superintending Engineer (of the dam zone); and officers from other departments such as Forest and Tourism and the National Highway Authority took part in the meeting. The sources said that it was decided to consider the backwaters of Narayanpur dam for the purpose in the later stage.

From The hindu

--------------------
Land acquisition for Mysore airport to begin soon


Staff Correspondent


Chief Minister has given assurance on providing an additional 500 acres of land




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mysore-Nanjangud road to be relocated

310 acres of land to be acquired for extending runway


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MYSORE: The Government will soon begin acquiring an additional 500 acres of land to construct a full-fledged airport in Mysore.

Disclosing this to presspersons here, Principal Secretary to the Department of Infrastructure V.P. Baligar said that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had given an assurance to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials during a meeting in Bangalore three weeks ago that the Government was ready to provide an additional 500 acres of land required for construction of a full-fledged airport in Mysore.

He was speaking soon after Joint Secretary to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry K.N. Srivatsav said that the AAI required more land for expanding the Mysore airport to facilitate operation of A 320 aircraft.

Mr. Baligar said that survey work for acquiring additional land would begin soon.

Mr. Srivatsav said that there was no scarcity of funds for the AAI to construct a full-fledged airport in Mysore. “There will be all-round development of Mysore with an airport. There will be unlimited opportunities for the region’s progress,” he said.

There were geographical barriers for the expansion of the Mysore airport that would be spread across 470 acres of land when upgraded.

Relocation

“We have the Mysore-Chamarajanagar railway track on the southern side and Mysore-Nanjangud highway on the northern side. Besides, we have even the Chamundi Hills on another side”, he said.

The officials have decided to relocate the Mysore-Nanjangud road and proceed with land acquisition on the north-eastern side of the airport.

“We will require 310 acres of land for extending the runway up to 10,500 feet to facilitatelanding and taking off of Boeing and A 320 aircraft. Besides, we will need another 180 to 190 acres for shifting the Mysore-Nanjangud highway,” Mr Baligar said.

Although the Government urged the Centre to bear at least 50 per cent of the cost for acquisition of 500 acres of land, Mr. Baligar said the State’s request was not accepted in view of the Centre’s policy that State Governments should bear the expenses arising out of acquisition of land and providing electricity and water for airport projects.

“The Chief Minister has promised to provide 500 acres for a full-fledged airport in Mysore,” Mr. Baligar said.

Mysore MP C.H. Vijayshankar said the Government would acquire only as much land was required.

Mr. Vijayshankar said the authorities had decided to retain the existing railway line between Mysore and Chamarajanagar along the existing alignment.

Mr. Vijayshankar said the realigned highway would make the journey barely one to one-and-a-half kilometres longer.

Another Greenfield Private airport in Karnataka
...


Ground laid for airport

DH News Service, Hassan:



The construction work on Hassan airport, supposedly one of the largest in south India, was set in motion here on Sunday. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda performed laid in the foundation stone in the absence of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.


The airport will will have a facility to export agricultural produce to international market, pilot training and repair unit and recreational facilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gowda said the airport will boost development activity and help in the export of agriculture produce. It will also give a boost to dairy farming.
The entire scenario of Hassan and its surrounding regions will change in the next years, he added.
The airport will come up on 3,100 acres of land. In the first phase, Rs 500 crore will be spent.
Within a year, a major portion of the runway would be ready. The rest of the projects would be set in motion in the next 18 months.
The government has promised to procure all land required for the project, Mr Gowda said.
District In-Charge Minister H D Revanna and Rajeev Chandrashekhar, MP, H S Prakash, MLA, former MP H K Javaregowda and Deputy Commissioner Ashwathnarayangowda were also present.

Institute of wildlife, veterinary medicine to come up in Kodagu.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/27/stories/2007082751340300.htm


Madikeri: An institute of wildlife and veterinary medicine, first of its kind in the country, will come up at Chikkaluvara village in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu soon.

It will not only provide for higher studies in wildlife and veterinary medicine but also pave way for extensive research on the diseases prevalent among animals, M.T. Manjunath, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Kodagu, told The Hindu. The institute would come up under survey numbers 29, 30 and 31 of Chikkaluvara village in an area of 74 acres, he said.

A sum of Rs. 2 crore had already been released from the Union Government for the year 2007-08 to the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University in Bidar. Nagaraj, Director of Research of the university, had been appointed as the special officer to commission the institute in Kodagu from the next academic year, Dr. Manjunath said.

The land at Chikkaluvara was earlier reserved for setting up a mini airport in the district. But the technical team which inspected the area had given a report that the land was not suitable for establishment of airport because of hilly terrain in the vicinity. Later, the land was diverted for the institute by the district administration.

A miniature zoo to accommodate wild herbivore animals to facilitate research works would also come at the institute, Dr. Manjunath said. One significant feature of the institute would be that it would provide for research in genetics with a view to conserving the endangered species, particularly wildlife. The institute, once established, was sure to get international recognition and there could even be tie-ups with foreign institutions in the areas of wildlife and veterinary medicines, he said.

As regards higher courses, a one-year diploma in wildlife medicines would be offered. A two-year master’s degree in the same course, apart from Ph.D., would also be offered to the students, who opted for the courses. A bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences is the minimum qualification required to enrol in the course. Though wildlife diseases are prevalent, scientific documentation of such diseases could not be made so far due to various reasons.

The institute was expected to fill the void, Dr. Manjunath said. It would enable one to specialise in wildlife medicine since scope for treating wildlife diseases were large in view of a number of sanctuaries and zoos existing in the State and other parts of the country. The other important aspect is that the institute can act as a “breeding in captivity” centre for endangered species and study of wildlife behavioural aspects.

Bangalore ready for A-1 tag, but red tape holds it up



Naheed Ataulla | TNN



Bangalore: It is the issue of how fast the Karnataka government cuts the red tape and sends information sought by the Centre, if Greater Bangalore has to join the elite club of New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata as ‘A-1’ class cities.
Bangalore though classified as ‘A’ class now, it is qualified for the upgrade (A-1), which stipulates the population should be above 50 lakhs. “With the merger of seven city municipal councils, one town panchayat and 110 villages, the population has reached 57,99,613 from the previous 43,01,326. The area has gone up from 226 sqkm to 757.92 sqkm. Including the floating population, the number of people here has touched 65 lakhs,’’ urban development department sources said.
The reclassification will benefit 5.32 lakh state and over 51,950 central government undertaking employees, whose house rent allowance will increase from 15% to 30% of their basic pay. This is a boon, considering the high rentals in Bangalore, while the City Compensatory Allowance hike (15% for both sectors now) will be meagre.
Aso, it entitles the state to higher central grants.
“We’ve sought details on Bangalore and Hyderabad populations after their governments added some areas. Both qualify for ‘A-1’ with the population going up. With the A-1 tag, there will be a 50% jump in the HRA of central government employees,’’ Union finance ministry sources said.
The finance department admitted that certain information was sought and the file sent to the urban development department. The latter said the information was procured and it was now up to the finance department to process and send it. The matter lies there.
Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association president L Byrappa said the Fifth Pay Commission had corrected certain anomalies in the payscales, like raising HRA in Bangalore from 12% to 15%. “Of the two Pay Commission reports, the first on revision of basic salaries was implemented. The second on allowances, has not been implemented by the government.’’

MONEY MATTERS


Fifth Pay Commission says govt employees’ salaries constitute 15.82% of total expenditure.
Commission recommended 15% of basic as HRA for employees working in Bangalore, 7.5% (districts), 5% (taluks) and 3% (hoblis). Also rural allowance of Rs 100. CCA has two slabs — Rs 200 and Rs 300. The 2001 census pegs employees working in central govt sectors at 38.76 lakhs in the country.

Karnataka Panel clears 59 projects worth Rs 69,150 cr.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Aug282007/state2007082821967.asp?section=updatenews

A high-level committee headed by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today cleared 59 projects involving an
investment of Rs 69,150 crore with employment generation potential of 6.78 lakh people.

Briefing newsmen on the Committee proceedings, State Major and Medium Industries Minister Katta Subramania Naidu the projects included four power ventures, 16 Information Technology and Biotechnology Parks, eight ITeS ventures, seven in sugar, five in steel, four in tourism, and two each in software development and chemical sectors.

The projects also included an exclusive electronic hardware technology SEZ in Mangalore. The power projects included 800 MW gas-based power plant to be set up by Reliance Industries Ltd in Humanabad at a cost of Rs 2,400crore.

The Karnataka Power Corporation had been cleared to take up two major power projects with 1500 MW capacity thermal plant in Bellary at a cost of Rs 6,300 crore and a 1000 MW thermal plant in Raichur with an investment of Rs 4,160 crore. The projects also included an aviation training institute and logistics firm to be set up by Jupiter Aviation at a cost of Rs 630crore and a super speciality hospital and a convention centre by Hindustan Infrastructure Projects and Engineering Ltd costing Rs 460crore in Hassan.

Mr Naidu claimed 65 per cent of the projects cleared by the High Level Committee had been implemented. Bulk of the investments cleared today would be in Bangalore Urban (Rs.20,155 crore) and Bangalore rural (Rs.16,500 crore), together accounting for 24 proposals. The proposals included 11 Special Economic Zones. Mr Naidu said the government owned Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) would not be the nodal agency for land acquisition for these projects and the investors should purchase land directly from farmers.

He said the government was also contemplating an amendment to the land acquisition Act to enable the farmer, who sell lands to industrialists can opt for either posession of 8500 sft of developed land per acre or the compensation. He said that it had also been brought to the notice of the government about land acquired by KIADB in various parts of the State had not been beneficial either to the landlord, government or industry, leading to mushrooming of illegal structures. The government was contemplating to bring in a legislation to ensure that and land acquisition process should be completed within three years. The Government would also undertake a survey of the extent of land had been encroached upon. Steps would be initiated to bring in transparency in the functioning of KIADB.

Work on two flyovers stopped in Mlore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/31/stories/2007083155541000.htm

MANGALORE: Work on two flyovers taken up by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as part of the project to convert National Highways 48, 13 and 17 into four lanes has come to a standstill.

The NHAI has taken up work on five flyovers in all. Work on the Maroli flyover near Kulashekara and B.C. Road flyover has been stopped, while work at Kottara Chowki, Surathkal and Kuntikana is going on. Sources in the NHAI attribute the reason for stopping work on Maroli flyover to the delay on the part of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) Limited to submit a revised estimate to shift a 33 kV underground live power cable to a length of 150 metres.

Work on B.C. Road flyover has been stopped because the Bantwal Town Panchayat has given a fresh proposal to the NHAI to lay a new water supply line. The Bantwal Town Panchayat authorities have said that the NHAI has to give Rs. 33 lakh. But the NHAI has said that a proposal should be submitted through Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB). The NHAI has not yet received this proposal officially.

NHAI sources said that MESCOM has given a proposal to NHAI to shift the power line from Nanthoor to Kulashekara at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.45 crore. This proposal is awaiting NHAI clearance at Delhi. At the same time, the NHAI wanted to take up the Maroli flyover work. As the location of this flyover is between Nanthoor and Kulashekara, the NHAI has to shift an underground live power cable to a length of 150 metres. Initially MESCOM gave an estimate for Rs. 1 lakh to shift the cable. Following this, the NHAI paid Rs. 8,800 to MESCOM as supervisory charge. When a contractor of NHAI started work to shift the cable, MESCOM authorities did not permit it saying that they have to submit a fresh proposal. MESCOM has not submitted this fresh proposal to shift the cable, said sources in the NHAI.

Project to cost Rs 750 crore: Revanna

DH News Service,Bangalore:

Public Works and Energy Minister H D Revanna, on Saturday, told reporters that work on the six-lane road between Bangalore and Mysore would begin in the next two months, tender or which has been floated...

Karnataka Road Development Corporation has floated a tender for conversion of the Bangalore-Mysore four lane road into a six lane road. Public Works and Energy Minister H D Revanna, on Saturday, told reporters that work on the six-lane road would begin in the next two months.
Mr Revanna said that the total expenditure on the road is expected to be around Rs 750 crore. Service roads will be added on either side of the existing four lane road. Entry of vehicles to the main four lane road from service roads will be provided only at certain points. Around 300 acres of land is expected for conversion, while acquisition of necessary land between Mysore and Srirangapatna has already been completed.
Ring road
The minister said tender for Satellite Town Ring road, which connects all town municipal councils in the outskirts of Bangalore, will be issued within 20 days. The total length of the road will be around 400 km and total cost for the work is expected to be Rs 4,000 crore. Mr Revanna said that the work of six lane road connecting Yeshwanthpur and Nelamangala will start within a month.
Sub stations
Construction of 450 sub stations, of different capacity, is in progress in different places across the State. As many of the 200 stations will start functioning within a month. Construction of remaining stations will be completed by September 2008, he added.
Reacting to the increasing opposition to the Chamlapura thermal power project, Mr Revanna said that the State government would start the project after taking leaders of all political parties and protesters into confidence

By Team Mangalorean

MANGALORE, Sept 1, 2007: With the Karnataka Cabinet deciding to direct the Mangalore City Corporation to give licences to the multi story buildings in July last of which the orders have reached Mangalore City Corporation, the construction industry appears to be picking up positive trends. The builders have heaved a sigh of relief following the decision.

About 66 buildings at a cost of Rs. 1000 crores were held up and about 10,000 jobs in the construction industry were laid off since 2001 since the National Building Code had come into existence and there were at least two appeals to the government by the various organizations to give credence to the local zoning regulations of the Mangalore Urban Development Authority.

Former Chairman of the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) K. Thejomaya said the Associations of Builders, Civil Engineers, Architects and Developers had appealed to the government in 2002 with a specific request to the government to consider framing the by-laws of the town and country planning authority on the basis of the difficult topography the Mangalore city was endowed with. The rigid topography the city possessed gave little or no scope for large scale construction without sacrificing a major portion of the land for set backs as per the new regulations.

Secretary of the Builders Association of India Mangalore Chapter Dharmaraj said the cabinet decision has come in the right time and spirit but it was yet too early to comment on what shape the decision will take when it comes out as a government order. But he too agreed that the zoning rules of Bangalore, Hubli, Dharwad and Mysore could not be applied to Mangalore as the city's needs and topography was totally different.

Mr. Dharmaraj said that the Fire department was insisting on certain conditions based on the zoning regulations of Bangalore as well as the National Building Code which has been happening since 1993. But for all practical purposes the rules specified in the Comprehensive Development Plan of the MUDA was relevant to the Mangalore city and in any case the MUDA rules could take care of needs of the local construction regulations.

The builders in Mangalore feel that there should be more clarity in the cabinet decision and they hope that when government order comes out all issues will be addressed in adequate clarity.

In the meanwhile the construction companies that have left their projects half completed will resume the activities and labour contractors have started scouting for labourers especially those from Northern parts of Karnataka. Fleet owners, sand miners, hardware and cement dealers and interior decorators are hopeful of better days ahead.

Infrastructure Development site - covers most of the projetcs in karnataka.
http://idd.kar.nic.in/index.htm

S. Rajendran

Five residential layouts to come up on 15,000 acres of land
About 1.76 lakh house sites to be formed
They are likely to be ready for allotment soon

Bangalore: A month before it is scheduled to hand over power to its coalition partner, the H.D. Kumaraswamy-led coalition government is launching a massive housing project through five mega housing residential layouts spread over 15,000 acres of land around Bangalore.

A meeting of the Bangalore Development Authority board held here on Monday approved the formation of five new layouts, which will envelop about 1.76 lakh house sites of various dimensions.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the five layouts would be developed simultaneously and the sites would be ready for allotment in about six months.

“The Government estimates the requirement of house sites in Bangalore at around 2.1 lakh and I am confident that the demand of the people will be met substantially,” Mr. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said: “In line with the assurances held out by me over the past 19 months to provide housing for people in the lower strata of society, the BDA will set apart around 100 acres of land in each of these new layouts for vertical housing. About 75,000 flats, largely comprising one-bedroom apartments, will be constructed for allotment.” The price of the flats would be decided later, he said.

With elections to the municipal bodies notified earlier on Tuesday, the Government has decided to make a low-key pronouncement on the mega housing programme. The opening up of the green-belt area around Bangalore following the approval of the new Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) has paved the way for the BDA to obtain the requisite land for the housing scheme.

BDA Chairman Shankaralinge Gowda told The Hindu that the developed layouts would be owned by the BDA and land owners in the ratio of 60:40. For every acre of land acquired, the owners would be provided four sites each of 2,400 squar e feet. The cost of land would be Rs. 500 a square foot.

A BDA press release said that Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layout, between Magadi Road and Mysore Road (4,814 acres and 60,879 sites) will be developed at a cost of Rs. 2,639 crore; Shivaram Karanth Layout between Doddaballapur Road and Hesaraghatta Road (3,546 acres and 18,975 sites) at a cost of Rs. 1,847 crore; D. Devaraj Urs Layout between Airport Road and Varthur village (1,976 acres and 24,904 sites) at a cost of Rs. 1,108 crore; S. Nijalingappa layout between Varthur village and Sarjapur Road (35,451 sites in 2,806 acres) at a cost of Rs. 1,550 crore; and Kyasambahalli Changalaraya Reddy Layout between Hosur Road and Sarjapur Road (2,134 acres and 26,734 sites) at a cost of Rs. 1,170 crore.

Pull e-purse strings for a bus ride!
DH News Service,Bangalore:
BMTC bus commuters no longer need to fret about the availability of change to buy a ticket. ..
http://deccanherald.com/Content/Sep82007/city2007090824131.asp

Avathi-Bagepalli four-lane highway by Dec 2008.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Sep112007/district2007091124678.asp


The work on the four-lane highway between Avathi in Bangalore Rural district to Bagepalli is going on at a brisk pace and will be completed by December, 2008 without any problems, said Union Highway minister K H Muniyappa.

All set for land acquisition for two hi-tech industrial layouts.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/13/stories/2007091356350100.htm


BANGALORE: Two hi-tech industrial layouts have been planned around Bangalore and they will be contiguous with the five new mega housing layouts to be formed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

This is said to be part of a new experiment being launched by the Government to decongest Bangalore and to ensure that people from one residential pocket are not compelled to crisscross the city to reach their workplaces. Called “the integrated township scheme”, the Government has decided to promote integrated townships like what prevailed several decades ago when major industries had a residential township alongside.

Sources in the State Secretariat told The Hindu here that the Government, which sometime ago cleared the preliminary proposal and surveys for the formation of the two industrial layouts, was now expected to give the formal nod for acquisition of lands. These lands along with the 15,000 acres of land sought to be acquired by the BDA for the formation of five mega layouts were part of the greenbelt around Bangalore and were recently reclassified following the adoption of the new Comprehensive Development Plan for Bangalore.

According to Commissioner of BDA M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda, who has given the blueprint to the Government on the integrated townships concept and the availability of land for the same, said to be the first of its kind in India, industrial lands would be allocated only to what had been classified as “clean industries” — information technology, bio-technology, research centres, business process outsourcing and information technology-enabled services companies, garment units (barring those involved in dyeing) and so on.

While one hi-tech layout will be in the western part of Bangalore beyond Rajajinagar and Vijayanagar spread over 1,050 acres, the other would encompass the southern and eastern outskirts of the city between Hosur Road and Whitefield. It would extend over 3,500 acres.

As part of the layout, there would be a high speed corridor linking the Hosur Road with Whitefield area and from there to the international airport under construction in Devanahalli. Mr. Shankaralinge Gowda has intimated the Department of Industries and Commerce and the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board on the integrated townships concept and the need for the latter to immediately take possession of the land. A high-level investment committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister will allot the land to various entrepreneurs based on their requirements and other factors.

While the BDA has opted for the joint venture route to acquire the lands (land owners would be given four sites in exchange for every acre of land), it is for the Industries Department to finalise the method of land acquisition. The BDA Commissioner said that the two industrial layouts would be developed simultaneously with five mega residential layouts which together would have 1.76 lakh sites of various dimensions.

The BDA, which had planned to provide a dual pipeline to the residential layouts (a drinking water pipeline and non-potable water line), would extend this facility to the industrial layouts too, he added. The area for the industrial layouts had been earmarked in such a way that it had a good groundwater potential thus reducing the pressure on the Cauvery drinking water supply system.

Bidalli-Subramanya road could become a reality soon.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/13/stories/2007091351730300.htm


Madikeri: The proposed 23-km stretch of Bidalli-Pushpagiri-Kukke Subramanya road can be a reality soon, if a proposal sent by the Public Works Department (PWD) here to the State Government seeking Rs. 11.5 crore fructifies. If it materialises, most of the funds will go towards construction of 11 major bridges along the road from Bidalli to Kukke Subramanya. According sources, the road connecting Kodagu to Kukke Subramanya will cut down the travelling distance from Kodagu to the pilgrim centre by more than 32 km.

The funds will be utilised for construction of 11 major bridges along the route, apart from construction of 14 culverts. Conservator of Forests, Kodagu Circle, G.A. Sudarshan, based on a letter from the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri, has written to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), seeking permission to allow the PWD to take up road work involving a stretch of 3.7 km inside the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary.

The PWD has completed earthwork, including construction of a bridge, up to a stretch of four km with the help of the NABARD funds. Of the remaining 19 km, 14-km stretch is in Kodagu district, from Bidalli in Somwarpet taluk to Dakshina Kannada border, and five-km stretch is in Dakshina Kannada district. According to sources, Kodagu PWD will be entrusted with the work of completing the entire 23-km stretch of the road.

Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna, who visited Kushalnagar and Kudige areas of the district last month along with the Chief Minister, had promised that Rs. 50 crore would be given to develop Kodagu roads. The Kodagu PWD has sent a proposal seeking Rs. 35 crore for taking up reconstruction of major district roads which have taken a battering in heavy rain this year. Another proposal has been sent to the Government through the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited, to utilise Rs. 15 crore — Rs. 5 crore each for three taluks — for major road works.

Government mulls fast train b/n Blore, Mysore & Hubli.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Government_mulls_fast_train/articleshow/2375342.cms


BANGALORE: A Shinkansen (bullet train in Japan whose speed record is 443 kmph) to Mysore and Hubli from Bangalore! May sound incredible, but the Karnataka government is toying with this idea to decongest the Silicon city.

Applying the "just in time concept" for those having work in Bangalore and preferring to get back to Mysore (in 40 minutes flat) or Hubli (two hours), high-speed trains are being considered. Now by road, the 139 km distance between Mysore and Bangalore is covered in less than three hours and it is expected to go down further when the expressway is completed. But Hubli by train is an overnight journey or seven hours by road.

The idea was conceived after the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII-southern region) made a presentation to the state government two months ago on a Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai (CBM) Freight Corridor. The CBM was an offshoot of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor for which a feasibility report has been done and work is to begin in January 2008.

"Along with the CBM corridor, we've proposed two high-speed passenger trains. These trains will be on the line of one under way for Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar which will cover the 450-km distance in two hours," officials said.

The government has asked the Railways to conduct the feasibility report for both projects (CBM and high-speed passenger trains). "Acquisition of land should not be a problem as columns can be put on existing tracks," they said.

AAI submits plan to augment Mysore airport capacity

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092154430400.htm


MYSORE: In view of the projected boom in air passenger traffic from Mysore, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has submitted an ultimate master plan to augment the capacity of Mysore airport to handle Airbus and Boeing services that require a runway length of 10,500 feet or 3,200 metres. The ultimate master plan, submitted to the State Government, entails dovetailing Phase-2 with Phase-1 of the airport modernisation and expansion work.

Meanwhile, work is in progress to meet the deadline to operate ATR 72 aircraft by October 2008 for which the runway measuring 1740 metres, is being laid. The Phase-1 of the modernisation plan will be geared to handle Airbus A320 aircraft which are short to medium range commercial planes used by most airlines and have a wing span of nearly 111 ft and length of 123 ft with a seating capacity of nearly 330 passengers; its equivalent being the Boeing 737 and its variants.

These aircraft require a runway length of 2,400 metres. If the ultimate master plan is implemented, the runway length will be extended to 3,200 metres to facilitate operation of A310 aircraft which have a wing span of 144 ft and length of 153 ft. However, this requires an additional land acquisition to the extent of 425 acres and the AAI is keen that the process is set in motion at the earliest through the fast-track process.

M.N.N. Rao, Deputy General Manager, AAI, told The Hindu that the land requirement for Phase-1 is 310 acres with which the Mysore airport can have a runway of 2,400 metres. But the total land requirement for completing the ultimate master plan is about 735 acres, which is inclusive of 310 acres required for the first phase. The imperatives of land acquisition could not be over emphasised in view of the growing demand for land in Mysore, he said.

“We cannot take up land acquisition process after completion of each phase as it will only delay the upgrading work. Hence, the authorities should explore the fast-track mechanism to help expedite the land acquisition process to hasten the modernisation of Mysore airport,” Mr. Rao said. The Government was keen to have a full-fledged airport for Mysore, and hence the focus had shifted from mere upgrading to expansion and modernisation.

So, the Mysore airport would be equipped with the state-of-the-art instrument landing system (ILS) for wide bodied planes that provide precise guidance for aircraft approaching the runway for landing even during inclement weather, apart from providing night landing facilities. In the meantime, the ongoing civil work was set to reach a major milestone as the equipment required to lay the runway was being installed. Mr. Rao said they had acquired computerised concrete mega batching plant or Penta Plant, which had a capacity to churn out concrete mix in the right proportion at the rate of 120 cubic metres per hour.

About 2,500 cubic metres of concrete would be required to lay the runway for ATR aircraft while slipform pavers had been acquired from the United States to obviate the need for manual labour for the all-important runway construction. A major issue that impeded the completion of the upgrading pertained to the realignment of the Mysore-Nanjangud highway, which abuts the airport. However, the Additional Director-General of the Ministry of Surface Transport was in Mysore last week and he carried out extensive inspection of the spot, Mr. Rao said, pointing out that he would submit a blueprint for highway alignment which would also remove another impediment delaying the work in progress.

Cabinet clears diabetic institute for Bangalore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/27/stories/2007092761130500.htm


BANGALORE: Bangalore will soon have a specialised diabetic care institute run by the State Government with the State Cabinet on Wednesday clearing a proposal for setting up the Bangalore Diabetes Institute.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting that the institute would come up on the premises of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.

A 17-acre land would be identified in Bangalore city for setting up the proposed institute, he said. To begin with, Rs 2.50 crore would be allocated for the institute.

The Cabinet gave green signal for the implementation of the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission scheme related to urban infrastructure in Bangalore and Mysore by entering into an agreement with the Centre. It decided to promulgate an Ordinance to set up Law University in Raypur in the Hubli-Dharwad area.

BSNL focus on Wi-Max, Wi-Fi circuits in Blore.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/26/stories/2007092656111000.htm


BANGALORE: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Bangalore, is focussing on Wi-Max and Wi-Fi circuits more intently as these are the future of telephony, said General Manager (Central) V. Govinda Raju here on Tuesday. Interacting with the members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Mr. Govinda Raju said that BSNL Bangalore has identified few hotspots for Wi-Fi operations in the city and efforts are on to cover more areas under the scheme.

Mr. Govinda Raju said that Wi-Max, however, will take some more time as the technology works better only in an area where there was a scope for expansion. But sooner or later, Wi-Max will be the most sought-after telephony in Bangalore. As the city is expanding and drawing of cables is becoming difficult due to constraints, Wi-Max is sure to become popular.

Outlining the developments in some niche services of BSNL, Mr. Govinda Raju said the city had 1.21 lakh broadband connections and to improve the connectivity as well as the speed of the service the company has opted for “multi-play” connections. This new generation of equipment has been installed in Vijaynagar, Indiranagar and J.P. Nagar. Other areas will also get them soon. BSNL will use “gel filled” cables in all future connections.

International traffic goes up at Mangalore airport (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/10/03/stories/2007100351321500.htm)


Between October 2006 and September 2007, nearly 10 per cent of aircraft movements at the airport catered to the needs of 18 per cent of international passengers.

This indicated the fact that there was a demand for international operations from the region, and the facility to operate flights from Mangalore airport to international destinations has proved it correct. Mr M.R. Vasudeva, Airport Director, Airports Authority of India, Mangalore, told Business Line that the airport handled nearly 6-lakh passengers from October to September. Of them, the number of international passengers stood at 1.08 lakh. During the October-September period, the airport witnessed 7,378 aircraft movements. Of them, international traffic constituted 720 movements.

The number of aircraft movements to international destinations, which was six movements a week in October 2006, has now reached to 20 aircraft movements a week.

At present, Air India Express operates flights to Dubai, Bahrain, Muscat and Abu Dhabi from Mangalore. While the passengers have five flights a week to Dubai, they have three flights a week to Bahrain. Air India Express operates one flight each to Muscat and Abu Dhabi every week. Indications are now that the airport will soon witness 34 aircraft movements a week to international destinations.

MORE POTENTIAL


Still some more destinations such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are yet to be connected with Mangalore airport. Various associations of NRIs in the Gulf region are urging the Government to operate flights from Mangalore to these destinations.

In one of the recent statements, Mr Rajesh Sequera, Co-ordinator of the UAE-based Karnataka NRI Forum, had said that airlines such as Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways and Emirates have shown interest in operating to Mangalore. But they are awaiting clearances from the Indian Government in this regard.

Train services on Mysore-Nanjangud section unlikely to resume by year-end.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/04/stories/2007100457070300.htm


MYSORE: Train services on the Mysore-Nanjangud section, now suspended for gauge conversion work, may not resume till the year-end though the Railway Board had stipulated that the work be completed by March 31, 2007.

While the work pertaining to track-laying is almost complete, the signalling system on the stretch has to be reworked. The authorities are thinking of introducing the Multiple Aspect Colour Signalling system in place of the mechanical semaphore-type signals. This may take a considerable amount of time.

Sources in the construction wing of the Railways told The Hindu that it was unlikely that the passenger services could be introduced by the end of this year, as the signalling system was yet to be installed, while civil work, including strengthening and reinforcement of a few bridges on the Mysore-Chamarajanagar stretch, was yet to be completed. The last meter gauge train on this section operated in the second week of January, following which the authorities shut down all services and the railway stations to take up the gauge conversion work.

The gauge conversion work on the Mysore-Chamarajanagar section is part of the uni-gauge policy introduced by the Railways and the work on this section was approved in 2001. Funds were sanctioned for the purpose in the subsequent railway budgets. However, it was only in the 2005 railway budget the project received a fillip when it was sanctioned Rs. 45 crore. The work is being taken up in two phases and the first phase entailed gauge conversion between Mysore and Nanjangud, while the second phase will be from Nanjangud to Chamarajanagar.

The railway authorities had expressed confidence that the stretch between Mysore and Chamarajanagar would be ready by the end of 2007. But going by the pace of work, it is unlikely that the stretch can be thrown open for passenger or freight traffic in the near future. For, the major work at Badanakuppe and on an overpass near Madiyala Gate was in progress while the track between Nanjangud and Chamarajanagar was yet to be laid, the sources said.

Though the track had been laid between Mysore and Nanjangud, the work on the railway station at the temple town is yet to be completed and additional facilities, including retiring rooms and other passenger amenities, are being introduced. The sources said that trains services between Mysore and Nanjangud may be a reality by early 2008. But nothing definite could be said about services from Nanjangud to Chamarajanagar. The cost of the project had been estimated at Rs. 85 crore.

A long-pending demand of the people of the region, gauge conversion work is expected to provide better connectivity to the hinterland of Chamarajanagar to Mysore. This would also provide the region direct connectivity to Bangalore and beyond.

Bangalore to have new traffic control system (http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/05/stories/2007100558760500.htm)


BANGALORE: The city, which is witnessing tremendous growth in vehicular traffic, is gearing up for a new type of traffic control system. The work includes surveillance and enforcement cameras mounted at different places, vehicle actuated signal systems, sensor-driven corridor synchronisation and a central control room for monitoring traffic movement.

In a chat with The Hindu here on Wednesday, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K.C. Ramamurthy said the city’s traffic was not being handled effectively by the present system and that it needed a new system — the Vehicle Actuated Signal System (VASS). The system facilitates faster movement of traffic and every “time cycle” will be monitored as well as administered by a chain of sensor-driven signal posts.

The VASS has been designed by the public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and will be highly proficient automatic traffic management system, claim sources in BEL. The density of vehicles is gauged by a sensor at a given time cycle and the signal is referred to the traffic signals posts.

Explaining the concept with an example, the sources said the system would be fed with different time cycles depending on the estimated volume of traffic. The police had conducted vehicle density sample survey of different places and had arrived at more or less the exact density of traffic in most of the city’s roads and traffic islands. The estimated “time cycles” were based on this study, Mr. Ramamurthy said. The sensors would relate to the time cycle and regulate the traffic signals in tandem with the recorded vehicular density at a particular time.

Traffic density : The time cycle ranges from a minimum 10 seconds to 60 seconds. At a time when the traffic density was very low — say 1 a.m. — the sensors would use the 10 second cycle, which meant the red light period would be restricted to 10 seconds. But at that particular time if the approaching traffic increased in volume for some reason, the sensor would increase the time cycle in the multiples of 10 seconds with a cut-off limit of a maximum of 60 seconds. At peak hours, the time cycle would begin with 60 seconds and depending on the density of traffic would multiply at multiples of 40 seconds.

The BEL had begun installing sensor lines at 48 different places in the city and by October-end the entire city would be covered under this system bringing all 167 traffic signals under the ambit of the VASS. This system was working at West of Chord Road, Sadashivanagar and at three places on the Inner Ring Road. Mr. Ramamurthy said the traffic wing had acquired five enforcement cameras which would be mounted at various traffic points in the city. These cameras would help the police in identifying troublesome vehicles and those violating traffic rules. He said the photos and the video footage taken from the camera would become evidence in the court of law and would help the police in bringing down traffic offences.

Surveillance cameras : The department would also install surveillance cameras at 40 different traffic islands. It would help the police in managing the peak hour traffic and, in the case of major traffic blockages, to divert the traffic through different roads. The inputs of both classes of cameras would be recorded in the server at the traffic headquarters on Infantry Road. The camera systems would be installed at a cost of Rs. 3.33 crore and the VASS at a cost of Rs. 1.95 crore. The BEL would set up and maintain the system, Mr. Ramamurthy added. Sources in the Transport Department said that approximately 1,500 new vehicles were being registered every day and things were going to worse when it came to traffic management.

The Rajeev Chandrasekhar-owned Jupiter Aviation has been permitted to start a technology campus with an aviation training academy and an ICD on 540 acres of land at Hassan. Jupiter is investing Rs 630 crore in the project.

Its sibling company Hindustan Infrastructure Projects & Engineering Ltd is investing Rs 450 crore in a venture comprising a golf village, retail mall, convention centre and a superspeciality hospital, also at Hassan. This is to be close to the new Hassan airport which Jupiter has just started constructing.

The Hassan airport complex will have many firsts. It will be established on 2,500 acres at a cost of Rs. 3,000 crore.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/29/stories/2007082950731900.htm

It will include an airport (Rs. 1,200 crore), a pilot training institute, an aeroplane maintenance centre, a hi-tech hospital, a golf club and a swimming pool. The airport will have a 5,000-metre runway.
http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/28/stories/2007082854340500.htm

The techno feasibility report of the project, sent to the aviation ministry for approval, has surprised many. The state government is going to lease about 1,000 acres for an initial period of 30 years in Hassan for developing an A-380-compliant airport. The project talks of having a hangar big enough to house two A-380s side by side and an aircraft maintenance facility at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/CM_gifts_airport_to_fathers_constituency/articleshow/2417450.cms

It will be a world class, all-weather, all-aircraft airport with aircraft maintenance and modification facilities, besides acting as a major cargo handling destination through an inland container depot. Hassan airport will have a passenger handling capacity of two million in the first year, which is expected to increase to 10 million in 30 years.

The airport targets handling 60,000 tonnes of cargo per year and facilitate training of over 600 commercial pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and air traffic control cadets annually, besides handling heavy checks and modifications of over 60 aircraft per year. It will be equipped with two MRO hangars that can concurrently house two A380 or 8 A320 aircrafts, besides aprons with a capacity of five parked transit passenger aircraft.
http://www.hassanairport.com/html/CA3.htm

The 3,600-m long, 60-m wide runway will be capable of handling all types of aircraft, including the biggest A380s. The airport will boast a 100,000 sq.ft. passenger terminal and a 100,000 tonne cargo terminal, besides two 100 X 200 m maintenance hangars. A key feature of the Hassan airport, according to Mr. Narayanan, is the incorporation of the business models of four successful international Hassan airport — Mephis (USA), Toulouse (France), Bristol (UK) and Paya Lebar (Singapore).

Jupiter Aviation has forged many International alliances to bring together the separate sets of skills in technology, venture and infrastructure development. EADS, Airbus, Thales, ESMA from France have allied with Jupiter Aviation, which is an aviation venture development subsidiary of Jupiter Capital, the company founded by Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
http://www.hassanairport.com/html/Aug2007.htm
:cheers1::banana:

Bidadi all set for a boom.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Bidadi_all_set_for_a_boom/articleshow/2440898.cms


BANGALORE: Swanky high-rises, roads of international standards, sprawling residential enclaves, shopping arcades, club houses, golf course, lush green lung spaces, clean water bodies ... this might turn out to be one of the largest integrated townships proposed in Karnataka.

The Bidadi Knowledge City is taking shape with the government awarding the project to construction major Delhi-based DLF company. Spread over 9,000 acres, conceived at a cost of Rs 23,000 crore, the project envisages a work-live-play concept. The township will include an urban centre, town centre, office space, non-polluting industries and village centre on the banks of Byramangala Reservoir spreading all the way up to Bangalore-Mysore Highway. While the total area identified for the project is 9,175 acres, the net developable area will be 8,335 acres.

According to the detailed project plan submitted by the developer, the core area will have massive glass facade office, high-rises with scenic Byramangala reservoir in the background. After the core area follows commercial development, then residential and finally village centres. KIADB, which will acquire the land, will get Rs 57 lakh as development charge per acre. A 60:40 ratio sharing is worked out as compensation to land losers. For every acre acquired, the landowner stands to gain 8,300 sqft of developed land inside the township.

Bangarpet Railway station upgraded to 'B' category (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct102007/district2007100929650.asp)


Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said here on Tuesday that the Bangarpet railway station had been upgraded to 'B'category, as the Railways was getting a revenue of Rs 6 crore from the Bangalore-Chennai rail journey.
Every day more than 9,000 people travel between Bangalore-Chennai and because of this the revenue for the railways had gone up. Hence the station had been modernised for the benefit of the people.

The work is in progress and Rs 30 lakh had been released for the development of the station and for the benefit of the passengers the waiting room, information centre, announcement centre, water facility, cloak room and the vehicle parking lot. In the current year another Rs 70 lakh will be released and more basic facilities will be provided, he added. In the coming days the Bangarpet railway station will be developed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore and will become one of the model railway stations in the country. The Bangarpet-Marikuppam line will also be developed for the convenience of the passengers.



Marikuppam-Bisanatham rail line soon (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct102007/district2007100929651.asp)


Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu has informed that railway connectivity to Bisanatham from Marikuppam, which is nearly 17 km from Marikuppam will be created at the earliest.

Kolar-Chikkaballapur broadgauge conversion project inaugurated (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct112007/district2007101029851.asp)



Railways R Velu laid the foundation stone for the Kolar-Chikkaballapur broadgauge conversion project in Kolar on Tuesday.

Mr Velu said, inspection of 45 various railway routes was being conducted. The south-western railway projects are also being developed in the State. Mysore-Nanjangud-Chamarajnagar, Sakleshpur-Shravanabelagola-Hassan, Shimoga-Anandpur, Tumkur-Raidurga, Tumkur-Davangere (Chitradurga route survey project) are being undertaken.

The Kolar-Chikkaballapur railway route had been sanctioned after a lot of efforts, and the project had begun now. The extension of the railway route from Shrinivaspura to Madanapalli was also on cards, the minister said.
Also, an amount of Rs 852 crore was required for the extension of Madanapalli-Kadapa railwayline, and the Andhra Pradesh government had come forward to provide an amount of Rs 400 crore, for the same. With this, it would be possible to provide connectivity for Kolar-Chikkaballapur to the entire Nation.

A request for direct railway to be started from Kolar to Bangalore was placed before the minister and also the network to be provided between Shrinivaspura to Madanapalli and further be extended upto Tirupati.

Mangalore-B'lore train on November 15. (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct112007/district2007101029894.asp)

Finally Nov 15.. lets hope there's no postponement again

The much awaited demand for Bangalore-Mangalore train service will be realised on November 15, said Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Talacauvery, he said ‘Rilway Security Commissioner had submitted certain objection for starting of railway service owing to the security reason in the route. This delayed the starting of the train service. However, we will not postpone it beyond November 15.”

Mr Velu said that the State government has come forward to spend 2/3 of the total expenditure for the broadguage of Mysore-Bangalore railway line. Government is giving priority for starting of new trains in Karnataka, broadguaging of railway line and electrification. Reservation ticket booking counters will be started in all the district headquarters in the State.

Rly connectivity to Kodagu may be considered (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct112007/district2007101029897.asp)


DH News Service, Madikeri:

If coffee exporters come forth and collaborate with the Railway department and the State government, then the government will consider the proposal for providing railway connectivity to Kodagu, said Minister for Railway R Velu on Wednesday.

“Railway connectivity between K R Nagara and Kushalnagar might be taken up soon as the government approves the study for the project. Since it is a plain terrain, there will be very little burden. Hence, depending on the feasibility report, this project will be taken up.

He said that two projects, viz., Mysore-Kodagu-Mangalore and Chennarayapatna-Madikeri railway line projects have been dropped as the study of these two routes have pointed at 8 per cent and 5 per cent loss respectively.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Oct102007/business2007100929647.asp

http://www.kannadaprabha.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=KPD20071009230431&Title=District+Page&lTitle=%C1%DBd%C0+%C8%DB%7D%E6%25&Topic=0&dName=O%E6%E0%DE%C5%DB%C1%DA&Dist=-1

BEML, on Tuesday, inaugurated it’s second rail coach unit at BEML Nagar in Kolar Gold Fields.

The new unit will produce railway wagons and rail coaches for defence and civil applications and for high speed freight corridor. The production capacity is 450 units per annum.

According to BEML Chairman & Managing Director V RS Natarajan in view of increasing requirement of metro coaches, BEML is expanding its railway production capacity. “With opening up of second rail coach unit, BEML’s total railcoach capacity has reached 550 coaches annually,” he added

Mangalore-Surathkal four-lane road to be ready by May (http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/13/stories/2007101361820300.htm)



MANGALORE: The journey time from Surathkal to Mangalore is all set to be cut by half as vehicle users on this stretch of National Highway 17 can hope for a pleasant drive by May-end. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced the work of strengthening and widening the Mangalore-Surathkal Road. The road is designed for a speed of 80 kmph. At present, the road is badly damaged and it takes almost an hour to reach Surathkal which is 20 km. from here.

The entire project, with five flyovers, should have been completed by December 2007. But the shifting of water lines and other utility services took more time than expected, he said. Flyovers would be ready by December 2007. Ircon’s additional general manager D.P. Choudhury said the monsoon had affected the work. While the flyovers would come up at Surathkal, Kulur, Kottar Chowki, Kuntikan and Nathur, there would be a diamond-shaped junction, possibly with traffic signal lights, at the Karnataka Polytechnic Circle, the project director said. The roads will have 1.5-metre median and the carriageway on either side would be 7 metres. There would be paved shoulders of 1.5 metres.

Gundya-Subrahmanya road opened for vehicular traffic (http://http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/28/stories/2007102860520300.htm)


MANGALORE: Visitors to temple-town Kukke Subramanya can now hope for a comfortable journey on Gundya-Kukke Subrahmanya road. This road connects the National Highway 48 (Mangalore-Bangalore) with Kukke Subrahmanya. The Public Works Department (PWD) has developed it into a two-lane road and opened it for traffic. For many years, this had remained a single road and was in a bad condition. The former Chief Ministers, N. Dharam Singh and H.D. Kumaraswamy, had taken interest to improve this road. Mr. Kumaraswamy had laid the foundation stone to improve the road on December 13, 2006. Thereafter, this road had been closed for traffic for seven months to facilitate repair work.

The road assumes importance as many travellers from Bangalore and Hassan reach Kukke Subrahmanya via Shiradi Ghat and Gundya. People from Mangalore too use this road to visit Kukke Subrahmanya as Puttur-Kaniyoor-Subrahmanya and Uppinangady-Kadaba-Subrahmanya roads are in poor condition. This road also connects some villages in Sullia and Puttur taluks. Of the 22 km. stretch between Gundya and Kukke Subrahmanya, 14 km. road has been widened and asphalted in the last seven months at a cost of Rs. 5.1 crore. On this stretch, 12 bridges have been re-constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.3 crore. According to B.S. Balakrishna, superintending engineer, Mangalore Circle of the PWD, the department had executed the road and bridge work on behalf of Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL). A 12 km. stretch had been upgraded with the KRDCL funding and 2 km. stretch with Central Road Fund (CRF). “Only the finishing work related to approach to bridges are pending. We will complete it by December. Movement of vehicles will not be a problem,” he said. Earlier, 5 km. stretch of this 22 km. had been upgraded with Central Road Fund.

320 acre of additional land for upgradation of Mysore Airport. (http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Nov152007/state2007111535901.asp?section=updatenews)


The Mysore District Administration will begin the process of acquiring 320 acre of additional land for upgradation of Mandakalli Airport here. The administration had already handed over 175 acre of land to the AAI and the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board was entrusted with the land acquisition process.

He said additional land was necessary to construct a third runway to accommodate ATR 72 aircraft. The government would provide necessary rehabilitation package to the displaced persons, the survey, for diverting 1.8 km stretch in Mysore-Ooty National Highway 212, was completed and the report was forwared to the Centre for approval.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=16549800&postcount=151

(sorry meant to post it in bangalore projects)

TOI - 21 Nov '07
BANGALORE: The ongoing political circus seems to have pushed Karnataka Inc. into suspended animation. It has tarnished its image of a favoured business destination. The political tamasha the state has endured is being discussed by global CEOs and international venture capital and private equity funds.

....

Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry president S S Patil said: "The political turmoil is heavily eating into the business development activities of Karnataka. Corporates are staying away from investments. The state has lost investments worth up to Rs 50,000 crore to other destinations in the last six months." :ohno:

.....

Read full story (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Prez_rule_fallout_Brand_Bangalore_takes_a_hit/articleshow/2557412.cms)

THE HINDU 22 NOV 07-FULL STORY (http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/24/stories/2007112454710800.htm)

BANGALORE: Bangalore is set to offer unhindered wireless Internet access to the entire Greater Bangalore within 18 months. With this, Bangalore will be the second wireless city after Taiwanese capital Taipei.

...

Stating that the 21st Century belonged to wireless and nano technology, Mr. Vidyashankar said Karnataka, being the pioneer in information and biotechnology, had planned well to be ahead of others in these fields.

Wireless Bangalore was one among the two major initiatives of the Government while focus on nanotechnology was the other, Mr. Vidyashankar said.

Unrestricted Internet access will be offered in the entire 743-sq. km. area of Greater Bangalore under the unwired Bangalore project, which requires an investment of over Rs. 900 crore.

To give fillip to nano technology, the Government has constituted a vision group for the sector under the stewardship of scientist C.N.R. Rao. On the lines of IT.IN and Bangalore Bio, “Bangalore Nano” is slated to be held in Bangalore on December 6 and 7, he said. Mr. Vidyashankar said that the IT and BT sectors had been witnessing 35 and 40 per cent annual growth respectively.

The biotechnology sector, particularly agri-bio and pharma-bio sectors in Karnataka, had been witnessing a phenomenal growth of 170 per cent as against the national average of 20 per cent, he pointed out.

....

140 bus bays to be constructed in Bangalore city

Anil Kumar Sastry

BANGALORE: With Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses stopping in the middle of the already choked roads to pick up and drop passengers and worsening the traffic flow, the authorities have planned to construct bus bays at 140 locations in the city.

Inconvenience

The BMTC management, realising the inconvenience being caused to other road-users, has come forward to fund construction of the bays, and it has already released Rs. 2 crore to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with a promise to release Rs. 2 crore more.

By providing bus bays, the corporation also plans to rein in its drivers who are known for haphazard parking of buses on roads.

Provision for bus bays, which has been the responsibility of the local administration (BBMP), was glaringly absent on almost all roads in the city, compelling bus drivers to park on the road itself, near wayside bus stops.

While the inconvenience was not felt much when the number of vehicles was less a few years ago, the problem has become pronounced with the increasing number of vehicles on Bangalore roads, which has now touched 32 lakh.

The Traffic Engineering Cell (TEC) of the BBMP has taken up construction of the bays and has invited tenders for 100 bus bays out of 140 proposed by the BMTC.

A senior official of the cell told The Hindu that construction was likely to begin in a month and completed in three months.

He said the BBMP had formed three packages – East, West and South – for execution of the project.

Locations will be decided depending on the availability of roadside space as well as the traffic volume on the road.

Space problem


The BBMP on its own was constructing 40 bus bays, the process of which began in 2003, the official pointed out.

He said that work on 28 bays out of 40 was under progress, work on the rest was pending for lack of suitable location.

The problem was in availability of space on the roadside, and with every road often being widened it has become difficult for the BBMP to locate suitable places.

Stem cell research institute to be set up at Bangalore
08 December 2007

Mumbai: The department of biotechnology (DBT) plans to set up an institute for stem cell research and regenerative medicine at Bangalore.

The department is actively pursuing the proposal while necessary approvals are being obtained, its joint director Alka Sharma said at the valedictory function of the workshop on stem cell research at the National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health in Bangalore.

She said the newly circulated final draft guidelines for stem cell research, prepared jointly by department of biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has been placed for public comments.

The draft guidelines clearly define research under permissible, restricted and prohibited categories.


For instance, research pertaining to adult stem cell and cord blood stem cells comes under permissible category.

On the other hand, embryonic stem cells and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) of oocytes (eggs) come under restricted category, while human germ line genetic engineering or reproductive cloning and breeding of experimental animals are all prohibited, she said

Meanwhile, she said the Rs18-crore stem cell research centre at Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore supported by the department is expected to become functional soon.

The CMC-DBT project will have facilities for good manufacturing practices (GMP) and is almost complete, she added.

Cell therapy is expected to find ground in three years provided scientists conduct proper pre-clinical tests on primates before its benefits could be lend to humans, stem cell biologists said.

Centre sanctions Rs 1000 cr for nanotechnology initiatives in Karnataka
by JohnT on December 7, 2007 - 12:12.

The Union government has sanctioned Rs 1000 crore for nanotechnology initiatives in Karnataka. The first instalment of Rs. 100 crore has been disbursed to set up India's first Nanotechnology Park in Bangalore. The government of Karnataka has officially taken position of the land located off the Magadi-Tumkur Road, in the outskirts of Bangalore to set up the Nano Park.

The Park will take a period of three years to be commissioned. It will have a full-fledged institute that will focus on research and training.

Although Nanotechnology initiatives have taken off in the country at research institutes and academia engaged in concrete efforts along with commercialisation of the technology to a certain extent by the industry, Karnataka has been short-listed for the Nano Park because of the projects by the research centres in the State like Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science and the National Centre for Biological Sciences, said MN Vidyashankar, secretary, department of biotechnology and Science and technology, Karnataka.

So far, the Union government has provided only Rs. 120 crore for science and technology segment. The Rs.1,000 crore grant by the Centre only for nanotechnology efforts will provide a fillip to the growth of this segment. India has a huge potential to market nanotech products. Investments in nanotechnology can catalyse its development in pharma, medicine and chemical fronts, stated Prof. CNR Rao, national research professor, chairman, science advisory council to the Prime Minister and Honorary President, JNCASR.

Nanotechnology and biotechnology have created an opportunity for the innovative development of medical advances. It offers cheaper and faster medical diagnosis, new therapeutics and novel methods of drug delivery with many of these technologies currently in preclinical or clinical development.

Among the companies engaged in nanotechnology are Reliance Industries, Biocon, Quantum Dot, Nano Excel Enterprises, Omniscient Electronics, to name a few.

Globally, US and Japan have made major inroads in nanotechnology, but compared to China the tow countries are far behind in terms of manpower and money invested in the sector. However India has caught the bus on time and is not late in the business, stated Prof. Rao.

Going by the capability of the Indian pharmaceutical sector performance and the efforts to absorb nanotechnology we have a lot of scope in competitive areas like cancer therapy, diagnostics of neural disorders like Alzheimer's and dementia. The country has the ability to develop and manufacture sensors which can be used in MRI technology.

Honeywell is gearing up to set up a Nano Sensor Centre in Bangalore. "Instead of the US bigwigs capitalizing the best of brain power from India for nanotechnology, we need to take on the onus to enter into advanced research and commercialisation of nanotechnology which is possible in nano-medicine and nano-diagnostics," stated Prof Rao.

The global market size for nanotechnology is valued at $8-10billion and India share is miniscule. However, India has the potential to grow with the initiatives in nano-diagnostics.

In the area of manpower, efforts are on to attract the school and college students towards nanotechnology. We need to train people in nanotechnology research and manufacture to exploit the advantage, he said.

While nanotechnology is still nascent in India, it is crucial to involve venture capitalists in the sector. This is because nano ventures would not have taken off in the US but for the support from VC funding, added Prof. Rao.

more...
Nanotechnology throws open a global opportunity of $1 trillion by 2015
http://www.nanovip.com/node/4051

Mangalore: Separate railway division promised
The Hindu

MANGALORE: Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission and former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday that Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had assured him of creation of separate division with Mangalore as headquarters.

Mr. Moily told presspersons here that Mr. Prasad had given the assurance to him during his visit to the city to flag off the Mangalore-Bangalore train on December 8.

He said creation of the division would ensure more goods transport through the new broad gauge line (Mangalore-Hassan). Besides, plans were afoot to put in place a Rs. 120-crore conveyor belt to ensure direct loading of iron ore into ships at the New Mangalore Port Trust.

The proposed Mangalore division would emerge as a wealthiest of the divisions and propel growth of the region, Mr. Moily said.

He said Mr. Prasad had agreed to start shuttle services to Subramanya Road, Karwar and towards Kasaragod and Kannur from Mangalore. Preparations were on to introduce a faster train to Bangalore via Arsikere.

Mr. Moily said he had urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to sanction a special grant of Rs. 40 crore for various development projects in the city.

From B S Arun, DH News Service, New Delhi:
Hassan, Shimoga on list


Karnataka's proposal to build four airports at Hassan, Shimoga, Gulbarga and Bijapur appears all set to get the Centres seal of approval.


The Union civil aviation ministry has nearly completed looking into the Hassan, Shimoga, Gulbarga and Bijapur airport projects and has drafted a cabinet note which is now before Minister Praful Patel.

After his approval, the draft note will be taken up by an inter-ministerial committee consisting of the ministers of finance, defence, aviation and law and the deputy chairman of Planning Commission. After being vetted by this committee, the note will be taken up by the cabinet committee on economic affairs for approval which is the final authority to clear the projects.

No nod hassles







An official of the civil aviation ministry told Deccan Herald: “It is easier for us to clear these projects since financial issues are not involved in them. Unlike the Bangalore international airport, the Centre is not picking equity in these projects.”

While the Hassan airport is being implemented by Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Limited, the seven-day government of BJP gave approval for the Gulbarga and Shimoga projects to be built by Maytas Infra Limited, a Hyderabad-based private infrastructure development and construction firm on private public partnership (PPP) model. The Bijapur airport will also be developed on PPP model and tenders will be called soon to select the project developer.

The Centre has more than once praised State’s efforts to develop regional airports and had reiterated that they would be approved fast. The ministry subsidiary, the Airports Authority of India, is already executing the Mysore airport and expansion of Mangalore, Hubli and Belgaum airports. Once work on these airports is over, they will be capable of handling bigger aircraft such as A320s.

The 150-km norm

One of the major decisions that the committee is also looking into is easing the 150-km norm. At present, no airport can come up within the 150 km of an existing airport. The committee, it is understood, might suggest that this policy guideline be removed as the requirement should be assessed in terms of traffic demand rather than distance.

However, this will not affect the Bangalore International Airport Limited which has entered into an agreement with the Central and state governments barring second airport within 150 km.

IN HANGAR

*Hassan airport is being implemented by Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Limited.
*Maytas Infra Limited is developing Gulbarga and Shimoga airports.
*Tender is to be called for developing Shimoga airport.

Runway, taxiway of Mysore airport to be ready by April
Special Correspondent

Work on airport terminal expected to be completed on time

MYSORE: The “city royale” will emerge on the air map of India to cash in on the aviation boom and the first flight may take off from the upgraded airport by December end.

The runway to cater to ATR is taking shape fast and extension to cater to wide-bodied Boeing and Airbus flights is being taken up concomitantly.

While the length of the runway will be 1,740 metres and width 30 metres on completion of the first phase, the taxiway will be 223 metres in length and 30 metres in width all of which will be ready by April. Work on the airport terminal will be taken up in due course and is expected to be completed on time for the inaugural flight from the city.

This was disclosed during a review of the work on the Mysore airport by C.H. Vijayashankar, Mysore MP, who was apprised of the developments by M.N.N. Rao, Deputy General Manager of the Airports Authority of India.

A delegation comprising senior officials from the AAI, Forest Department, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) visited the Mandakalli airport to review the progress and ensure better coordination among various agencies.

Mr. Rao pointed out that according to the memorandum of understanding signed between the AAI and the State Government, the work should be ready within 24 months from the date of commencement. Hence, January 2009 was the deadline. But they were confident of completing it ahead of schedule.

The machinery, specially procured for building the runway, had become fully operational.

About 40 per cent of the work had been completed and a proposal to divert Mysore-Nanjandud Road had been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India for approval. This would entail providing an alternative route to Nanjangud as the AAI proposed to acquire an additional 311 acres of land to extend the runway to facilitate the operation of Boeing and Airbus services, Mr. Rao said.

He said 735 acres of land would be acquired for the implementation of the airport master plan.

Anil Urs / Chennai/ Bangalore January 10, 2008

The Bangalore-based Prestige Group plans to build a 1 million square feet tech park in Mysore.

“The Mysore project is for commercial IT office space with multi-tenanted office blocks similar to our Prestige Tech Park on the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore,” said Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director, Prestige Group.

“The tech park is to be built on 15.6 acres of recently-acquired land in Hootagalli, opposite the Infosys campus,” he added.

The office blocks will have 30,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet floor area each and will be built in phases. Phase I is to be completed in 24 months and phase II in 12 months from phase I. Facilities like club house, food court, business center, health club, swimming pool, retail stores, coffee shops and an amphitheatre will also be provided.

“For the Mysore project, we are taking care of all shortcomings at our project on the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore. We are providing one car park for every 800 square feet,” he said.

In addition to the tech park, the company is also building a ‘Forum Mall’ in Mysore. The mall project is expected to cost around Rs 250 crore with about 500,000 square feet leasable area.

According to Razack, the group is taking the Forum Mall to other cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Mangalore in the next three years.

The Hyderabad project, costing Rs 300 crore, has 800,000 square feet of leasable area, Chennai Rs 300 crore and 600,000 square feet, Kochi Rs 350 crore and 700,000 square feet, Mangalore Rs 200 crore and 500,000 square feet.

“The company is planning to build 10 malls with a budget of Rs 3,000 crore in south Indian cities. Malls are to come up with shopping, entertainment, multiplex and parking component when fully-functional,” he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/12/stories/2008011256931800.htm

Axiom Design Automation of the U.S., a semiconductor design solution provider, has announced the expansion of its Indian operations with inauguration of a new facility in Bangalore. The company opened its first semiconductor design centre in Mangalore, according to a release. — Corporate Reporter

8 Feb, 2008, 2040 hrs IST, REUTERS

BANGALORE: A study had been initiated to check out the feasibility of setting up a Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor, according to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath.

Responding to a demand at an exporters' meet, organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Indian Export that such a corridor would help facilitate trade, he said the Centre was already looking into the issue and a study had been initiated on the matter.

Rajkumar Khatri, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka, said the corridor could be built with NH 4 as the backbone. This stretch touches 11 districts of Karnataka and nearly 20 towns along this stretch that could be developed in a major way, once the corridor was put into place, he said.

Some Japanese companies like Toyota had expressed their willigness in investing in such a project.

He also urged the minister to consider their demand for enhancing connectivity between Bangalore and Mangalore by setting up of a dedicated container train on this route.

Presenting the industry viewpoint, A Sakhtivel, Vice President and Regional Chairman of Federation of Indian Export Organisations, said the steadily rising rupee had contained India's export growth. Export of labour intensive industries declined due to loss of competitiveness owing to the depreciation of the dollar, he said.

Deutsche Bank In Talks For Acquiring 100-Acre Land
Mini Joseph Tejaswi & Anshul Dhamija | TNN

Bangalore: The 30-billion-euro Deutsche Bank is said to be in talks with Karnataka government to acquire 100 acres of prime land in Mangalore to set up its world’s largest IT infrastructure support facility.

The proposed facility will comprise the bank’s largest data centre, disaster recovery centre, global network support centre and back-end support centre, and is expected to support Deutsche Bank’s global operations and branch networks spread across 76 countries, said state government sources.
“Deutsche Bank has plans to set up a state-of-the art technology facility that will drive its global businesses in Karnataka. Top bank officials have approached us and we have shown them prime industrial land in Mangalore. We are ready with formalities and we will help the global bank with all clearances,’’ said the source.
“The bank officials have already visited Mangalore and are happy with the chunk of land shown to them,’’ the source added. Although Deutsche Bank is keen to finalise this deal in Karnataka, it is also exploring similar deals in other states.
Deutsche Bank sources said the bank has earmarked Rs 500 crore towards buying land in India, but refused to divulge details on the purpose of the land acquisition.
Deutsche Bank employs around 80,000 people globally and operates close to 2,000 branches across 76 geographies. In 2007, the bank hired around 10,000 people. Of them, 1,400 were in Germany while Asia alone accounted for 40%.
Besides, the bank is believed to be doubling its headcount of 5,000 in the next two years. Deutsche Bank has 10 branches in India and its balance sheet size is over $4.2 billion.
The captive scenario is hotting up in India. The country has around 800 captives of which 600 are in the R&D space while the rest are BPO captives focused on banking, insurance or retail like Goldman Sachs, Tesco and Bank of America.
“The dynamics for captives is changing in India. Recession in the global markets is making the country more attractive in terms of scalability, productivity and talent availability. Also, MNCs are willing to offer more ownership and controls to heads of their captives centres back in India. The situation was quite stiff-necked earlier,’’ said Pari Natarajan, CEO, Xinnov Management Consulting, an offshoring advisory firm.

Banking on

To acquire 100 acres of prime land in Mangalore
To open largest tech support centre in Karnataka
Centre will fuel bank’s global operations
To hire 5,000 people in India

8 Feb, 2008, 2040 hrs IST, REUTERS

BANGALORE: A study had been initiated to check out the feasibility of setting up a Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai industrial corridor, according to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath.

Responding to a demand at an exporters' meet, organised by the FKCCI and Federation of Indian Export that such a corridor would help facilitate trade, he said the Centre was already looking into the issue and a study had been initiated on the matter.

Rajkumar Khatri, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka, said the corridor could be built with NH 4 as the backbone. This stretch touches 11 districts of Karnataka and nearly 20 towns along this stretch that could be developed in a major way, once the corridor was put into place, he said.

Some Japanese companies like Toyota had expressed their willigness in investing in such a project.

He also urged the minister to consider their demand for enhancing connectivity between Bangalore and Mangalore by setting up of a dedicated container train on this route.

Presenting the industry viewpoint, A Sakhtivel, Vice President and Regional Chairman of Federation of Indian Export Organisations, said the steadily rising rupee had contained India's export growth. Export of labour intensive industries declined due to loss of competitiveness owing to the depreciation of the dollar, he said.

This corridor is already developed with many urban and industrial centres (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur-Sangli, Belgaum, Hubli, Davangere, Tumkur, Bangalore, Kolar-KGF, Vellore, Chennai). Golden Quad highway is nearing completion on this stretch. Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline has been proposed and there is decent rail connectivity between Chennai-Bangalore-Mumbai.

Are there any details on what exactly is this project about - are we talking of high-speed rails, frieght corridor, 10-lane expressways, power grid, canals and other infrastructure or is it just going to be a land-grabbing real estate venture like the SEZs.

Aravind Gowda / Chennai/ Bangalore February 12, 2008

With the demand for steel increasing in the domestic market, iron ore exporters in the state are turning to steel production.

Three large iron ore exporters have lined up steel projects for an estimated investment of Rs 1,450 crore in the state. The steel plants are coming up in the iron ore-rich Bellary-Hospet-Sandur region as well as south interior Karnataka like Hassan and Chitradurga.

The largest investment is being made by the Bangalore-based Mineral Enterprises Ltd (MEL), a private firm. MEL has obtained all clearances from the Centre to set up an integrated steel plant (350,000 tonne) near Hassan with an investment of Rs 700 crore.

“We intend to produce pig iron as well as sponge iron. The project includes an iron ore processing plant, a cintering plant to use iron ore fines for making steel and a power plant. We are in the process of acquiring 250 acres for the project,” MEL MD Basant Poddar said.

The company is roping in an established player in the steel sector for the project as a partner. MEL produces 2 million tonnes of iron ore every year. “We will be needing at least 60 per cent of our production for the steel plant. We expect the plant to become operational by 2009,” he added.

Bellary-based Hothur Steels, which produces sponge iron apart from exporting iron ore, is also planning to set up an integrated steel plant. The plant is likely to come up in the Bellary region.

Another Bellary district-based iron ore exporter Kariganur Mineral Mining Industry Ltd (KMML) plans to invest Rs 750 crore in Hospet on various projects.

It intends to set up a sponge iron plant – 120,000 tonnes per annum (Rs 60 crore); mini steel plant – 125,000 tonnes per annum (Rs 135 crore); iron ore beneficiation plant – 3 million tonnes per annum (Rs 180 crore); iron ore pelletisation plant – 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Rs 250 crore) and a power plant – 25 Mw (Rs 125 crore).

All these projects are expected to be commissioned through 2010. KMML, which exports iron ore to China, Japan and Pakistan, has set up a subsidiary -- Kariganur Iron & Steel Pvt Ltd -- for its steel production venture. At present, the company is producing sponge iron for the domestic market.

Apart from these, proposals from other iron ore exporters in the state to set up steel plants (with an estimated investment of Rs 550 crore) are awaiting government approval.

Karnataka saw the highest investment in the steel sector in 2006 when proposals worth Rs 30,600 crore were cleared. The north Karnataka districts of Bellary, Raichur and Koppal, rich in iron ore deposits, have been preferred by the investors. The region holds 80 per cent of the estimated iron ore reserves (3.44 billion tonnes) in the state.

According to state government officials, the projects are on. "None of the proposals has been withdrawn. They are at various stages of implementation," they added.

Murudeshwar Temple Now Tallest Gopuram in Asia (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=45696&n_tit=Murudeshwar%20Temple%20Now%20Tallest%20Gopuram%20in%20Asia)
TOI
Pics: Sahil Online

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3531/murd0414081sa6.jpg http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7620/murd0414082mi8.jpg

Murudeshwar, Apr 14: The Murudeshwar temple has another feather to its cap now. It can now boast of having the tallest temple gopuram in Asia with the magnificent Arabian Sea in the backdrop. D Veerendra Heggade, dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala, inaugurated the gopuram on Saturday.

The rajagopuram is 249-feet tall and is taller than the 243-feet gopuram of Sriranganath Swami temple, Srirangam, Trichi and 239-feet long gopuram of Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore.

Heggade lauding the dedication and efforts of R N Shetty, builder of the Murudeshwar temple, said the new rajagoupram is an excellent blend of incredible beauty, magnificence and devotion.

Raghaveshwara Bharthi blessing the occasion said the Murudeshwar temple is not a mere rajagopuram, but is the raja of gopurams. He advised the state government and muzrai department to take a lesson or two from Shetty on managing temples.

The brain behind the tallest gopuram, Shetty, managing trustee and founder of Murudeshwar temple town, said the rajagopuram has 21 floors, including the ground floor. This is the only gopuram which has a lift and devotees can go right to the top. The base measures 105 feet in length and 51 feet breadth.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7930/murd0414083ln1.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/4127/murd0414084wu5.jpg

The construction began in 1990. In 1998, the second phase began and has been completed now. Shetty plans to have museums on all the 21 floors so that the gopuram will cater to the needs of not just devotees but also others who are interested in art, culture and history.

The magnificent 123-feet long statue of Lord Shiva in the backdrop lends the gopuram a majestic look. Shetty said the Rajagopuram was built under the guidance of Tamil sculptor S K Achar who built “Vivekanada Rock” in Kanyakumari along with his sons Dakshinamurthy and Swaminathan and a big team of 500 Tanjore-based sculptors. Also present on the occasion were Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swami, seer of Ramachandrapura Mutt of Hosanagara and Sadhyojatha Shanakarasharma Swami of Chitrapura Mutt, Shirali.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5204/murd0414085sf4.jpg

cross posting from the investments thread


Tata Metaliks to invest Rs 1,000 cr in Karnataka

Domestic pig iron maker Tata Metaliks is planning to invest around Rs 1,000 crore to build a 0.8 million tonne plant for manufacturing long products in Karnataka and has begun scouting for land in the state.

"On an invitation from the Karnataka Udyog Mitra, Tata Metaliks is seeking to establish a 0.8 MT plant in the state at an estimated investment of about Rs 1,000 crore," a company official said.

The company would require assured iron ore linkage for the proposed plant and land area of about 500 acres. "The state government has indicated to us that it will take care of our raw material needs and we feel encouraged," he said.

Tata Metaliks was planning to zero in on the site near the iron ore bearing areas of Karnataka and near railway network with adequate water supply.

However, the company's top brass is likely to take another 3-4 months to finalise the blueprint for the plant.

Tata Metaliks Ltd was incorporated in 1990 and began its commercial production in 1994. It is engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling pig iron and its plants in Kharagpur (West Bengal) and Redi (Maharashtra), have captive power plants.

"The company provides its customers with critical support across their entire business cycle - raw material, process and end product - helping it emerge as their business partners. It emerged as a one-stop shop for raw materials and end products for a large number of customers without adequate bargaining capacity across a multitude of vendors," the official said.

The opportunities being explored by the company are further expansion of pig iron business, forward integration into castings (including conversion through partner foundries) and steel, both through greenfield projects as well as merger and acquisition, he added.

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Metals__Mining/Tata_Metaliks_to_invest_Rs_1000_cr_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3025417.cms)

Wienerberger forays into India; to set up plant near Bangalore

Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of world's largest producer of clay hollow bricks Weinerberger, today announced its foray into the Indian market with an initial investment of Rs 90 crore.

The first investment by the company in Asia would be utilised for setting up a manufacturing plant in Kunigal, near here. Wienerberger India's Kunigal plant which spreads over 30 acres of land, would have an output of 100,000 tonnes per annum in phase one.

Commercial production would start by the end of 2008 and would focus on hollow blocks under the brand name "Porotherm" and an exclusive range of "Terca" facing bricks. The Kunigal plant is Wienerberger's first Asian facility amongst 263 plants in 26 countries.

The euro 2.48 billion company, number two on the clay roof tiles market in Europe, already has government approval to double the capacity in phase two.

"The demand for eco-friendly building materials is on the rise globally. In India, the birthplace of clay brick architecture, clay is still the most preferred building material", Ingo Hofmaier Managing Director (Commercial) Wienerberger Brick Industry Pvt Ltd told reporters.

"Wienerberger has a long-term interest in the Indian building market and our endeavour to provide high quality clay hollow bricks, facing bricks, clay pavers and clay titles in the most cost-effective manner has led to this investment", Hofmaier said.

The company said clay is locally sourced. It said the company's load-bearing clay hollow blocks can "beat the heat due to its outstanding thermal insulation properties".

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Paper__Wood__Glass_Plastic_Marbles/Wienerberger_forays_into_India_to_set_up_plant_near_Bangalore/articleshow/2998959.cms)

just for the numbers sake... 2008 Assembly elections ...

Party ============ Contestants == Won
Bharatiya Janata Party === 224 ==== 110
Indian National Congress == 222 ===== 80
Janata Dal (Secular) ===== 219 ==== 28
Independent =========== 943 ====== 6

That's good news for Karnataka. I am happy that BJP can form the government itself along with the 3 independent candidates that it needs and not piggyback the imbecilic Gowda led JDS party to form a coalition. I hope the BJP in KA can replicate the high level of development that Modi carried out in GJ.

http://www.nolandgrab.org/images/Mr-Burns-Excellent.jpg

Get ready to see the crappy congress and the commies being thrown out at the center.

BJP promises infra boom in Karnataka (http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=lmnu2&subLeft=1&autono=324085&tab=r[url)

Infrastructure-strapped Karnataka is expected to see a heavy dose of BJP largesse following its strong victory in the state, according to senior party functionaries, with greater focus on capital city Bangalore.

According to Jagdish Shettigar, chairman of BJP's economic cell and former member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council, infrastructure, especially road building, will be a priority.

"We have frequently stressed that the level of infrastructure required for Bangalore as the country's IT capital was yet to be developed and that we are committed to it," he said.

It is now also certain that work on the controversial 111-km Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) connecting Bnagalore and Mysore will be accelerated. "We have always supported NICE," said a BJP leader.

The project had fallen foul of Deve Gowda, former prime minister and chief of the Janata Dal (S), the BJP's former ruling partner in the state, over the question of surplus land acquisition. The BJP had said that it wanted surplus land acquired for the project to be returned to farmers and alleged that Gowda wanted an auction.

Power is the other area of focus, Shettigar said. A programme similar to the Gujarat government's Jyotigram project to provide rural areas with 24 hours of power has been proposed in campaign speeches."The party has already promised a separate rural grid for those areas and free power for irrigation pump sets up to 10 HP," he said.

For urban areas, the plan is to double power production to 10,000 Mw in the next five years. Given the heavy financing requirements, sources said the BJP will encourage public-private partnerships.

Meanwhile, chief minister designate B S Yeddyurappa has promised that the BJP's economic manifesto will be evident in Karnataka's next Budget.

If that is the case, farmers, weavers and even fishermen look forward to agricultural credit at 3 per cent, a revolving fund of Rs 500 crore for support prices on agricultural produce and Rs 2 per litre subsidy to milk producers.

Two categories of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families will be created in the state, with extremely poor households being seen as those with an annual income of less than Rs 30,000 and poor households as those having an annual income between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000.

In regional terms, north Karnataka may be a beneficiary of some major irrigation projects. The region has always been punished for its loyalties to the BJP by the Deve Gowda family regime.

Unlike the well-irrigated and wealthy sugarcane-growing south, where Deve Gowda wields his influence, northern Karnataka has always been arid and dusty.

^^Glad to see BJP in power in Karnataka and hope there would be a stable govt from now on.

It seems it is right time I moved to Bangalore, things started happening like BIAL, new Govt, etc etc:)

Ashok Kheny to propose four more expressways (http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/08/stories/2008060853480400.htm)

Even before the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project could come out of the controversy surrounding it, Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), promoter of this project, has decided to make a proposal to the new Government in Karnataka to allow it to take up four similar expressway projects in other parts of the State. Ashok Kheny, managing director of NICE, told presspersons after the swearing-in ceremony of Katta Subramanya Naidu as minister at Raj Bhavan on Saturday, that he would make a proposal regarding the four expressway projects to the new government in about a week.

The four proposed expressways are Bidar-Bangalore, Raichur-Belgaum, Karwar-Bellary and Mangalore-Kolar.

Mr. Kheny said he had decided to make the above proposal to the Government as he wanted to improve the connectivity to Bangalore from other important district centres in the State, besides the connectivity between the prominent district centres.

He said the first phase of the BMIC would be completed in about three months while the entire project would be ready in about two years.

^^ Cool.. hope all four expressways are cleared! Especially as northern Karnataka is very much ignored, it is high time such expressways and projects are started there!

Maytas Infra bags Karnataka airport project (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Maytas-Infra-bags-Karnataka-airport-project/323428/)

Mumbai, June 16: Maytas Infra on Monday said a consortium led by it has bagged a project to construct a greenfield airport at Gulbarga in Karnataka.

Maytas Infra in association with NCC Infrastructure Holdings, VIE India Project Development and Holding LLC has bagged the contract for construction of Gulbarga airport, Maytas said in a filing to the BSE.

A separate Special Purpose Company has been set up for the project in which Maytas Infra will have 37 per cent stake, NCC (37 per cent) and VIE (26 per cent), it added.

The construction period of the project is 24 months from the date of signing the agreement with a concession period of 30 years extendable by an additional 30-year term, the filing added.

The contract also includes construction and development of runway, terminal, ancillary buildings and other infrastructure, it said.

"Maytas Infra led consortium is delighted to be partnering with government of Karnataka to herald a new era in the development of the region," Maytas Infra Vice-Chairman Taja Raju said.

The Gulbarga airport is being built on a public-private partnership basis. The consortium would develop and operate the airport on a build-operate-transfer basis.

Link : http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=47494&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+Ashok+Kheny+Dreams+Big+for+Coastal+Belt

Shimoga Airport work to begin today

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4049/getimagedllmu8.png

Source: TOI e-paper


Project overview from Maytas Website (http://www.maytasinfra.com/html/airport-shimoga.html)
This would be a green field project under Public-Private -Partnership ( PPP).
A Special Purpose Company (SPC) has been established to sign the Project Development Agreement (PDA) with IDD, Government of Karnataka. The PDA was signed on April 3, 2008 expected to be signed by the end of January 2008. The Shareholding pattern of Maytas, Nagarjuna Constructions and Vienna International will be 37%, 37% and 26% respectively in the SPC. The company has already identified consultants to take up preparation of detailed studies, and has built up a team to secure all clearances required for the project.

The Construction Period is 24 months from the date of signing the agreement and the Concession Period is 30 years. The concession shall at the option of Consortium be extended for a further period of 30 years.

Karnataka to reboot, targets Rs 1,20,000-cr IT revenues by ’11

Top software industry leaders have presented a blueprint to the BJP government in Karnataka for the revitalisation of the information technology and biotech industries in the state to more than double revenue from the sectors to Rs 1,20,000 crore by 2011.
One of the key components of the blueprint is the creation of four new hubs of 500 acres each around Bangalore exclusively for companies in the IT, BT and health sectors, with industry and government jointly buying land from farmers at market rates.
Access to land in and around Bangalore for expansion, along with the city’s well-documented infrastructure crisis, have been long-standing concerns for IT companies. Applications for land allotment by top names such as Infosys and Wipro have been hanging fire even as they step up investments at locations outside Karnataka.
Karnataka’s leadership in the IT sector appears to be under serious threat, with software exports from the state growing by just 11% during 2007-08, compared to Andhra Pradesh’s 41%, Tamil Nadu 37% and the national average of 29%.
Bangalore’s technology sector employs some 6 lakh people, nearly a tenth of the city’s total population.
The revitalisation blueprint, a copy of which is with ET, envisages an autonomous empowered authority to give all permissions and approvals for what it calls the ‘IT-BT-Health cities.’ “A high-power committee consisting of members from the government and industry will be formed to negotiate and finalise the land procurement,” it says.
In addition a monitoring panel headed by the state’s IT minister and including representatives from government and industry has been suggested. Software companies are wary of property developers and real-estate companies developing technology parks and would prefer instead to set up campuses on their own. The IT industry wants the four new hubs to be located along the proposed peripheral ring road around Bangalore, which is being taken up at a cost of about Rs 3,000 crore.
To give a thrust to the new government’s policy of developing tier II and tier-III cities as magnets for technology companies, the IT industry is asking for a special investment of Rs 500 crore each in Mysore and the port city of Mangalore in three years. It also wants an ‘electronic city’ to be established on 1,000 acres of land in Mysore on the lines of the main technology hub on the outskirts of Bangalore.
A similar integrated IT-BT-Health city is envisaged for the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad to be set up under a public-private partnership. For the northern cities of Belgaum and Gulbarga, it wants ‘electronic cities’ which will help generate large-scale local employment for business process outsourcing companies.
Karnataka’s new IT minister, Katta Subramanya Naidu, has asked technology companies to fan out to the state’s smaller towns and cities to generate local employment and to ease the strain on Bangalore, which is groaning under poor infrastructure and problems with land acquisition.
Software companies say they are ready to invest in other parts of the state, but the government must provide adequate infrastructure and access to human resources in these areas.

source economictimes epaper

Water Resources Min pushes for Rs 1500cr additional funding

An additional Rs 1500 crore budget funding has been sought for the current financial year for speedy implementation of major and medium irrigation projects in Karnataka, Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Bommai said allocation for these projects earmarked in the budget presented by the Governor Rameshwar Thakur when the State was under President's Rule was around Rs 3,600 crore which was "less to take up real works".

"We have sought an increase of Rs 1,500 crore in the coming budget (to be presented by the BJP government next month)", he told reporters here on Saturday.

Bommai also said three companies coming under his ministry -- Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama, Kaveri Neeravari Nigama and Karnataka Neeravari Nigama -- would start declaring quarterly results.

This would enable to get an update on where they stood in terms of meeting targets and make them more accountable, he added.

He said he has started interacting with Chief Engineers across the State on a daily basis to give a push to various projects and facilitate faster decision-making, through videoconferencing facility.

"We are targeting to complete the 12 months work, within eight months (before March)", Bommai said. "I want to remove delay in decision-making which is a heavy cost".

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/Water_Resources_Min_pushes_for_Rs_1500cr_additional_funding/articleshow/3175670.cms)

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/04/stories/2008070458940800.htm

Greenko acquires rights for 4 hydro projects in Karnataka

Greenko Group plc, an clean energy projects operator, said on Friday that it has acquired rights for four hydro projects in Karnataka and will invest 36 million euro for their development.

Greenko has signed a legally binding contract to acquire four new concessions, the Sonna 10.5 MW, Kallur 16 MW Joladadagi 16 MW and the Dinnekere 2 MW hydro scheme in Karnataka, the company said in a filing to the London Stock Exchange.

The 44.5 MW of new concessions would be developed through a capital expenditure of around 36 million euro with a targeted debt equity ratio of 75:25, Greenko added. "By these acquisitions we can substantially reduce development time and capture the current premium price levels through sales to power trading companies and direct sales to industrial end users," Greenko CEO and co-founder Anil Chalamalasetty said.

The new assets would increase Greenko's total projects under development from 102 MW in April 2008 to 146.5 MW. Along with the company's existing 90.5 MW of secured installed capacity, gives Greenko a total of 237 MW of assets, the filing said.

Once these projects are operational, it is likely that the total portfolio would generate over 800,000 tons per annum of Certified Emission Reduction units (CERs). Sonna Mini Hydro Scheme is likely to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2009 and is expected to generate 23,500 tons of CERs per annum. The plant would sell electricity to the Karnataka state grid under a long term Power Purchase Agreement with Hubli ESCOM.

The electricity from Kallur, Joladadagi and Dinnekere mini hydro schemes would be sold at premium prices either through an agreement with power trading companies or direct to industrial end users.

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/Greenko_acquires_rights_for_4_hydro_projects_in_India/articleshow/3198177.cms)

Karnataka sanctions Rs 15 crore to improve infrastructure works

Karnataka Government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore to improve civic amenities and carry out other infrastructure works in Bidar in connection with the '300th year commemorial function' of Guru Gobind Singh, for which lakhs of pilgrims are expected to visit the district headquarters town.

A committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary with the Deputy Commissioner, Principal Secretary Kannada and Culture, Information and Tourism, gave a consolidated proposal to develop infrastructure including road development, drinking water facility, and upgradation of drainage system, an official press release said.

Lakhs of pilgrims visit the commemorial function at Nanded in Maharashtra and the Jera Gurudwara in Bidar every year, according to the release.

"The number of these pilgrims is increasing year by year and the resultant pressure on the existing infrastructure is also becoming phenomenal. The 300th year commemorial utsav of Shri Guru Gobind Singh is coming up this year during October and November and 25 to 30 lakh people are expected to take part," it said.

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Infrastructure/Karna_sanctions_Rs_15_crore_to_improve_infrastructure_works/articleshow/3226973.cms)

Link - http://www.kar.nic.in/finance/2008july/bhl08-j-e.htm

Bangalore Infrastructure Development

Ø Rs. 1800 Crores for Bangalore Infrastructure Development

Ø Formation of 60000 sites by BDA in the Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Extension.

Ø Construction of 10 Flyovers and underpasses in the Bangalore Outer Ring-road for smooth traffic at a cost of Rs. 350 Crores.

Ø construction of peripheral ring-road at a cost of Rs. 3000 Crore under public private partnership.

Ø High speed Rail for Bangalore International Airport.

Ø A grant of Rs.700 crores for Metrol Rail

Ø Multistoried car parking at 40 places in Bangalore under public private partnership.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Ø Special Development Plan of Rs. 700 Crores for the development of Hubli-Dharwar, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Davanagere, Bellary, Mysore and Bangalore City Corporations. A grant of Rs. 175 Crores during this year.

Ø An assistance of Rs. 136 Crores for providing drinking water to Hubli-Dharwad City.

Ø Improvement of Karwar Port under Public-private participation.

Ø An amount of Rs. 12 Crore for the development of Malpe Fishing Harbour.

Ø Constitution of "Karavali Karnataka Development Authority".

Ø In order to improve the transport facilities in rural areas, grant of Rs. 50 Crores to NWKRTC.

Ø Establishment of Karnataka Minorities Board.

Ø 1000 MW additional power generation in this year.

Ø In order to establish an International Airport at Hubli, 700 acres of land and for the development of Belgaum Airport 370 acres of land will be acquired.

Railways:

Ø Guage conversion of Shimoga-Talaguppa Railway line.

Ø Construction of new Railway Line between Bidar-Gulbarga.

Ø Guaze conversion of Solarpur-Bagalkot Gadag Railway Line.

Ø Doubling of Bangalore-Ramanagar Railway Line.

The small hamlet of Somapura now dons an urbane look, complete with water, electricity, concrete houses and well tarred roads...

Sitting in the foyer, Lakshmamma proudly opens the gate on hearing the sound of her husband’s bike. She switches on the fan and goes inside to prepare coffee for him on her brand new LPG stove. Life for Lakshmamma has taken a dramatic turn after Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) built a new concrete house for her. Earlier, she used to stay in a thatched mud house which neither had a compound nor a toilet! But NICE has now shifted her to a pucca concrete house with a compound wall around it. In the true sense of the word, Lakshmamma now leads a city life.

Link: http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul292008/spectrum2008072881426.asp

Hinduja plan to invest Rs 1,000 cr in projects in Karnataka

The Hinduja Group of companies has evinced keen interest in investing in Karnataka and plans to invest Rs 1000 crore in various projects in the state.

Hinduja Group India Chairman Ashok P Hinduja and Hinduja Group of Company's President Dheeraj Hinduja, who called on Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in Mumbai on Sunday, expressed their willingness to invest in the areas of Power Generation, building Airports and Medi-Tourism projects, an official press release said here today.

The Chief Minister said that the government was ready to extend all help and support, provided the group was ready to invest in infrastructure projects like Power, Industrial Corridors and Tourism development, it said.

To the Hinduja group expressing its intention to build an international Convention Centre on the land owned by them near Yelahanka, Yedyurappa assured the government's full support in realising the project.

A team of representatives of Hindujas is expected to visit the State soon to hold discussion with government officials.

source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Hinduja_plan_to_invest_Rs_1000_cr_in_projects_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3349248.cms)

Karnataka’s development blueprint for 2020 ready: Yeddyurappa (http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/12294.htm)

....Karnataka was hailed as a progressive state not long ago. Over the last couple of years, the state has slipped to seventh position on the development index. To bring the state to the forefront, a Karnataka 2020 development blueprint has been drawn and will be made public soon,� the chief minister said at the Manekshaw parade ground after unfurling the tricolour....

Karnataka clears projects worth Rs 31,000 cr (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Karnataka-clears-projects-worth-Rs-31-000-cr/351959/)

The Karnataka State High Level Committee (KSHLC) has reportedly cleared 25 industrial projects worth Rs 31,000 crore, official sources in Chief Minister Office said.

Among the projects, the government has cleared Rs 6,150 crore integrated steel plant to be set up by Bharat Mines and Minerals Ispat Ltd (BMMIL) in Bellary. The capacity of the plant would be two-million tonnes per annum (MTPA), official sources said.

The Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) of Union petroleum ministry would set up Rs 1,250 crore Indian Strategic Petroleum Research Project covering 160 acres of land in Mangalore.

The KSHLC has also cleared Gulf Oil Corporation's Rs 850 crore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) proposal near Bangalore. Another SEZ for biotech would be set up by Gopalan Enterprises at a cost of Rs 190 crore.

The KSHLC has also cleared Rs 1,000 crore hi-tech hospital to be established by Bangalore-based health major Narayana Hrudhayala near Bangalore. The proposal of Sathya Sai Hospitals to set up Rs 430 crore high-tech hospital near Bangalore also has been cleared.

In addition, NEC Real Estate would set up an integrated township project with an investment of Rs 500 crore near Bangalore while Dan Hospitality India Ltd would set up a five-star hotel at a cost of Rs 200 crore in the IT city.

With these projects, the officials said 2.5 lakh persons would get employment in Karnataka.

From Asia Times - 27 June, 2003.


Why India's economy lags behind China's
By Ramtanu Maitra

The on-going six-day trip to China by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that ends on Friday contains many elements, but one of the major objectives will be to improve India-China economic relations.

In tow with Vajpayee are business leaders from 100 of the biggest Indian companies, including one of India's top five, software developer Infosys Technologies Ltd. The biggest tractor maker, Mahindra and Mahindra; the largest drug manufacturer, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd and the top cement manufacturer, Grasim Industries Ltd, are accompanying the premier. These industries represent the areas in which India enjoys an edge over its Chinese counterparts, and New Delhi expects to pull off business deals of benefit to India.

The comparison
Comparing the Indian economy with the Chinese economy has become almost a pastime for many analysts. A majority of these economic analysts have come to the conclusion that as of the year 2003, China is well ahead of India. As The Economist of London titled its recent cover story on the subject: "India V China: A Tiger, Falling Behind a Dragon."

China's relative success over India in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) was what tipped the balance for The Economist, although the article points out that China's figures are "inflated by 'round-tripping' of domestic investment through Hong Kong". At the same time, The Economist notes, some Indian economists claim that India's FDI figures are understated, because "they exclude foreigners' reinvested profits, the proceeds of foreign stock market listings, intra-company loans, trade credits, financial leases, and so on".

The second criterion cited by The Economist is the respective growth rates of the two countries. Decidedly, China's growth rates are much higher than India's. But the article points to some Indian businessmen and policy makers who angrily claim that China, being under a dictatorial government, cooks its books and presents a much rosier picture of its economy than reality warrants. India, with a democratic system, cannot resort to such official chicanery.

The Economist concludes that India's economic backwardness has little to do with democracy as such, but has a lot to do with corruption, fiscal mismanagement, a lack of international ambition and a history of over-protection at home. On the surface, the argument is cogent, but it is also true that corruption in China is similarly high and often, if not always, fiscal mismanagement is another face of corruption.

Significantly, however, The Economist report did not look at the respective country's investments in the physical sectors - such as manpower development, health, power, water management, railroads, roads and highways, communication etc - and hence remains highly superficial and gossipy. A comparison of investments by China and India in their respective physical economic sectors over the past two decades would have made it very clear why China is surging ahead, and India is not. It must, however, be said that India's growth rate in recent years, for which the Vajpayee government hardly deserves any credit, though highly inadequate, was better than most distressed economies of the world.

Skewed investments
In the 1990s, following the opening up of the Indian economy with the intent of inviting foreign direct investment, foreign investors were given an open invitation. As a result, investment was concentrated in consumer durable sectors where it is quick-yielding and withdrawal is very easy. This exemplifies the fly-by-night nature of many foreign investors.

As was pointed out by Indian Planning Commission member Dr S P Gupta at a memorial lecture two years ago, India now must encourage foreign investment with a priority in infrastructure. There investment is of a long-term nature and the amount of investment needed is very high. The Indian private sector finds it very difficult to enter such heavy investment areas.

Similar views were expressed by a senior World Bank economist recently. "Since 1991, India has had a policy of attracting private investment into infrastructure," said India country director Edwin Lim, speaking at a conference in New Delhi. "While some progress has been made, India's demands for infrastructure services are still not being met. If the private sector is to play a big role in meeting India's infrastructure demands, then India needs sectoral policies and a regulatory framework that are conducive to private investment."

Since India opened up to foreign investment in the early 1990s, there has been some economic expansion. But there has been little parallel investment by successive governments in the power industry or other critical infrastructure such as railways, airlines, highways and telecommunications.

Decrepit infrastructure
A World Bank report issued almost three years ago said, "The shortage of power is estimated at about 10 percent of total electrical energy and roughly 20 percent of peak capacity requirement." Fifty years after independence, many rural areas are still without electricity. Even measured against neighboring countries, India's per capita electricity consumption is very low - 270 kilowatt hours/year as compared to 300 for Pakistan and 480 for China.

Perhaps no single issue excites Indian industrialists more than the subject of erratic power supply. Indian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of India's manufacturing and industrial employment, are now reeling under pressure from imports. "We do not want protection," says Y P Suri, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Small Industries of India, an apex body representing SMEs. "All we want is support in terms of infrastructure."

From padlocks to electrical appliances, Chinese goods have made a mass entry into Indian markets. Chinese electrical goods flooding the Delhi market have forced over 250 units in the capital to close shop. "How can you compare us with China?" asks Suri. "Can the Indian government guarantee us the same kind of power supply that Chinese SMEs get?"

With more than 3.3 million small-scale units spread across the country and with over 18 million people employed in them, SMEs are India's second largest employer - after agriculture. But, according to the Ministry of Small Scale Industries, more than 300,000 SMEs have been sick since March 2000.

While the power shortage in India is for all to see, including those foreigners who travel only by air, India's railroads have been in a mess for decades now. At least 14 million people ride each day on the world's second largest railway system, which stretches 66,800 miles, zig-zagging up and down and across India.

"Freight traffic volume has gone up by 620 percent and passenger traffic by 514 percent since 1951, while input into increasing capacity has grown by only 200 percent," said M K Mishra, a former member of the Indian Railway board. The higher load has increased pressure on railway staff and affected safety on a state-run network inherited from the country's British colonial masters at independence in 1947. Railroad accidents have become a daily affair and, like terrorist killings in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the deaths in railroad accidents do not raise any hue and cry from the people. No rail minister opts to resign any more. The death toll in train accidents has gone up significantly because, experts say, the outdated equipment combined with sub-standard parts on rail coaches make the railways more vulnerable to such accidents. At the same time, rail budgets have been decreasing. And the priority for every railway minister is adding a new train that connects his or her own constituency to Delhi or Mumbai or some other metro.

Ever since the Narasimha Rao government in 1991 embarked on its "liberalization" policy, the power sector has been systematically starved of funds. Not only has the private sector failed to contribute to production capacity in any significant way, but investment in transmission and maintenance of existing plants has seen catastrophic declines. As a result, even when new plants are commissioned, the problem of poor transmission networks remains.
One area where the neglect of infrastructure over the decades is most apparent is in the nation's roads network. Only 2 percent of Indian roads are four-lane, 34 percent are two-lane, and 64 percent are single-lane. Much of the problem is due to the fact that India has been spending less and less on road infrastructure. India's first five-year plan (1951-56) spent 1.4 percent of its total outlay on roads. The share gradually declined, to a mere 0.6 percent in the eighth five-year plan (1992-97). Even after 50 years of independence, nearly 50 percent of Indian villages are yet to be connected by all-weather roads.

The Rakesh Mohan Committee estimated in 2001 that the economic cost of bad roads ranges from Rs 200 billion (US$4.3 billion) to Rs 300 billion annually. External assistance is being obtained for the improvement of national highways through international agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Overseas Economic Cooperation of Japan. This is one area the Vajpayee administration has paid attention to, and is investing in quite liberally.

A similar weakness is all too visible in the Indian port system. Decrepit and bogged down by lack of modernization, Indian ports are a nightmares to importers. The old state-run Mumbai port is a classic example: it suffers from inefficiency, poor draught, low productivity, high costs and long vessel turnaround times. Mumbai's inadequacies have benefited Colombo in Sri Lanka, which is enjoying growing container volumes.

Efforts to develop India's ports have all too often been stymied by the creaking bureaucracy. For example, recent bureaucratic problems encountered in the private tendering processes at Mundra in northwestern India and in the conversion of two break bulk berths to a new container terminal at Nava Mumbai under the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust have slowed down the development of ports in India.

Conclusion
In contrast to India's neglect of the basic infrastructure, China is investing its surplus in railroad, power, road and water management in a concerted way. There is no question that China still lacks adequate infrastructure, but it has understood clearly the importance of modernizing its basic infrastructure to generate employment and adequate utilization of its vast population.

Indian policy makers, and some economists, on the other hand, give the impression that India's strategy to accelerate growth is to leapfrog past technologies through its information technology (IT) acumen. India's services sector has seen a steady increase in growth rates, share of GDP and contribution to GDP growth. More than half of India's GDP growth in the 1990s came from the growth of the services sector.

It is one thing to applaud the contribution of IT - with its minimal requirement for infrastructure - to the Indian economy at this time. It is quite another matter, and potentially disastrous, to pretend that boosting IT is a development strategy. IT cannot move a slow-moving economy, burdened with a massive shortfall of infrastructural development, a huge number of illiterates, crippling poverty and very high unemployment and under-employment. As the International Finance Corporation's 2001 report, "Leapfrogging India's Information Technology Industry and the Internet," put it, "while the technology offers considerable promise for India, it will have to be combined with more widespread reforms if the promise is to be realized."

The real bad news lies elsewhere. India's agricultural sector, which continues to employ about 60 percent of the country's workforce, has seen a real decline in terms of its contribution to GDP growth and its share of GDP. India's industrial sector has not been able to replicate the growth magic of the services sector either. While industry's share of GDP has increased over the years, its growth rate dropped in the 1990s and its contribution to GDP growth has more or less remained constant over the years. Data show that six major industry groups - food products, cotton textiles, textile products, wood, paper and basic metal and alloy industries - have experienced a sharp slowdown over the past four years.

Overall, as industrial development was divorced from efficiency and productivity, India's ability to compete globally has been seriously compromised. By contrast, during the same period, Chinese manufacturers became increasingly competitive. Infrastructure has made all the difference.


http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EF27Df04.html

deleted.

Karnataka Government would create an IT-BT Authority to promote the key sectors of information technology and bio-technology. The government would also come out with a new semi-conductor policy, as well as a biotechnology policy.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=48630

Also, state government has decided to develop ITPs in Shimoga, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad, Mysore, Mangalore and Bangalore. Foundations will be laid in November 2008.
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=97916

Double Congratulations on Rajyotsava day & on Kannada getting Classical status.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is setting up a new test range in the outskirts of Chitradurga at Kudapura Kaval on a 4,200 acre plot bought from the state government for Rs.12 crore (Rs.120 million). The cost of the project is estimated to be about Rs.1,000 crore (Rs.10 billion). The range would be akin to the Balasore testing range in Orissa and would enable testing of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, parachutes, radars, airborne early warning and control systems and other electronic warfare systems. The Chitradurga test range is expected to be commissioned by 2010-11, with full-fledged facilities and equipment to carry out trials of various products designed and developed by DRDO for induction into the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Advanced_ATR_to_come_up_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3659286.cms
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/defence-lab-to-set-up-new-test-range-in-karnataka_100113575.html

Auromatrix Hotels, engaged in hotel development and management with its base in Chennai, has launched Sparsa Resorts, and planing to establish theme-based resorts in Sakleshpur and Coorg of Karnataka.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/26/stories/2008102655441300.htm

Gist of decisions taken by Karnataka state cabinet on 16th October 2008:


Call fresh tenders to implement Phases B and C of the Bio-Technology Park project following the withdrawal of the two companies which had earlier clinched the tenders as a joint venture
To grant 19.13 acres of government land to the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) for establishing an International Centre for Theoretical Sciences in a village near Hesaraghatta in the city outskirts.
Establish a Karnataka Horticulture Development Agency for development and management of nursery and horticulture farms spread over 15,732 acres in Karnataka
Shift the newly sanctioned Government engineering college from Hoovinahadagali to Bellary city as students refused to join the college since it was located in taluk headquarters.
A decision has been taken to sanction Rs. 10 crore from Revolving Fund to Shimoga Cooperative Marketing Board for its revival.
Release of Rs. 9.60 crore for construction of buildings of Government polytechnics at Gadag, Srirangapatna, Nagamangala and Siralkoppa.
Implement a major drinking water and sanitation project at an estimated cost of Rs. 53,877 crore in all districts in the next five years. The major thrust of the project was to tackle drinking water problem in all urban and rural habitations of 176 taluks of the State.


http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=97293

Hinduja plan to invest Rs 1,000 cr in projects in Karnataka



source economictimes.com (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Hinduja_plan_to_invest_Rs_1000_cr_in_projects_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3349248.cms)



They have huge investments in the 50,000 crores MANGALORE/ONGC SEZ as well.

Emaar - MGF to Open Hyatt Hotel in Mangalore

After the Success of Goldfinch,Deepa comforts ,Taj group now many more Hotel chains like Intercontinental,Leela ,Hilton have acquired properties. THE SERAI and Ginger Hotels are under construction.

Times of India

MUMBAI, Oct 20: Real estate and hospitality company Emaar MGF has agreed to enter into a joint venture with Global Hyatt Corporation of the US to set up a chain of business hotels in India under the brand name Hyatt Place. Emaar MGF is jointly owned by Emaar Properties, PJSC of Dubai and India’s MGF Developments.

According sources, both the parties have recently signed an MoU to this effect. A detailed agreement will follow soon. When contacted, the Emaar MGF spokesperson confirmed the development, but declined to give further details.


File picture (Dubai)

Hyatt Place is a recently-developed brand of Global Hyatt Corporation, a premier hotel company owned by the Pritzker family. Global Hyatt manages over 735 hotels and resorts with over 1.36 lakh rooms in more than 44 countries. The list of its affiliate brands include Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Resorts and Hyatt Summerfield Suites.

Sources said Emaar MGF will be the majority partner in the venture with a 74% stake. Hyatt will own the remaining 26% equity and will also provide management and brand services, including marketing, reservations and global sales services.

Sources said the JV will develop 20 Hyatt Place hotels with around 3,000 rooms across the country over next 10 years with a proposed investment of Rs 1,500 crore. During the first four years of its operations, the JV will set up properties in Mohali, Gurgaon, Mysore, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Cochin and Goa.

Industry sources said the 50-year-old Global Hyatt Corporation recently launched the Hyatt Place brand to satisfy the contemporary, multi-tasking business travellers. Its format is a combination of personal and professional activities. Hyatt Place offers an atmosphere of casual hospitality with a balanced mix of comfortable and functional amenities such as spacious guestrooms with plush interiors, three-meal restaurant, lounge, business centre and fitness room.

New Delhi-based Emaar MGF is engaged in development of residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, SEZ and IT parks, education and healthcare properties. It has recently rolled out an integrated mega township project in Mohali called Mohali Hills and The Palm Springs, a residential community project in Gurgaon.

It has also announced JVs with Accor and Premier Travel Inn for the development of hotels in India. Emaar MGF is in the process of mobilising around Rs 7,000 crore through an IPO, expected to hit markets in February.

Mangalore Airport Traffic up by 92% : Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai

Times of India
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=46732&n_tit=Mangalore+Airport+Traffic+up+by+92%25+%3A+Surpasses+Mumbai%2C+Bangalore%2C+Chennai

Mangalore airport sees phenomenal growth of 92%
Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai
Third fastest growing tier-II city
Airport handles 42 international arrivals and departures per week
Handles 28 domestic arrivals and departures per day
Even on cargo front, impressive growth of 39%
Mangalore, May 18: Mangalore has shot to fame as the city’s Bajpe airport has recorded a phenomenal growth in air traffic movement of 92% in February 2008 compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.


Mangalore Airport's new terminal will have this look when the work is completed.

According to a report on latest air traffic trends issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Mangalore airport has reported the largest growth in south India surpassing metros like Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, and is the third fastest growing tier-II city in India
after Agartala (95.2%) and Indore (105.9%).

The average national growth in air traffic movement in the country for February ’08 was 18% over the same period in ‘07.

According to the AAI report card, the increase in the number of low-cost airlines and international airlines is fuelling the growth of air traffic in these secondary cities. Bangalore is no more the gateway city to Mangalore, as now airlines operate direct flights from Mumbai and other metro cities. Recently, lowcost carrier Deccan launched a new flight connecting Mangalore to Kochi. National low-cost carrier Air India Express will also be upping its frequency in and out of Mangalore as it adds more flights to the Gulf region as well as metro cities in India.

“As Bangalore gets more and more saturated, emerging regional hubs like Mangalore are going to benefit. Mangalore has traditionally attracted the student and leisure traffic, but of late it’s attracting a lot of business traffic especially from the IT sector, forcing airlines to increase their services,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO (Indian subcontinent & Middle East), Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

Mangalore saw a 67% growth in domestic air traffic movement in February, in comparison to the national average of 17.4%. At present, the airport handles 42 international arrivals and departures per week and 28 domestic arrivals and departures per day. Incidentally, Bajpe airport is the only airport in the state to operate two runways. The new Bengaluru International Airport will get its second runway only in 2014.

Even on the cargo front Mangalore reported an impressive growth of 39% in the year ended March 30, 2008 over the previous year.


Mangalore Airport director - M R Vasudeva

Bajpe airport director M R Vasudeva, said, “More infrastructure facilities had to be added to the arrival terminal due to the increase in operations by domestic and international carriers.”

And this spurt in air traffic has helped the airport record an impressive 950% growth in operating profit for the year ended March 30, 2008. It clocked an operating profit of Rs 9 crore up from Rs 83 lakh reported in the previous fiscal. Total revenue of the airport stood at Rs 19 crore for the year gone by.

And the growth is likely to continue to remain at these starry heights as a new terminal building will be up and running by February 2009.

Progress & Process: Have a Look at New Terminal of Mangalore Airport

12 more roads to be concretised/for laned in Mangalore

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project estimated to cost of Rs. 46.88 crore
Rs. 50 crore from the Rs. 100-crore special grants to be used for the purpose
The scheme is awaiting Government approval: commissioner
Mangalore, Oct 17: Mangalore City Corporation will concrete 12 more roads by utilising 50 per cent of the Rs. 100-crore special grant announced in the 2008-09 State Budget.

According to Sameer Shukla, commissioner of the corporation, the 12 roads will be concreted at an estimated cost of Rs. 46.88 crore. The remaining Rs. 2.12 crore would be kept aside for related activities such as shifting of pipelines and telephone cables.

The corporation has earmarked Rs. 1 crore for computerising its routine activities and developing a software to improve the efficiency of administration, he told The Hindu.

“We have identified the roads for concreting with Rs. 50 crore, expected as the first instalment of the special grants promised by the Government. We have prepared a draft plan in this regard,” he said. The commissioner said that the corporation was yet to get administrative and technical approvals from the Government to the plan. Corporation would invite bids once the Government approved it. Roads identified and estimated funds-allocation for concrete them are: Falnir Road (Rs. 7.07 crore); Shakthinagar Main Road (Rs. 3 crore); Bunts Hostel-Kadri Road (Rs.4.75 crore); Kadri-Lower Bendoorwell Road (Rs. 4.75 crore); KSRTC bus-stand to Kuntikana Junction Road (Rs. 6.43 crore); Kuntikana to Kavoor Road (up to the entry to Land Links) (Rs. 2 crore); Karangalpady to Bejai Church Hall Road (Rs. 3.29 crore); Hamilton Circle to Rao and Rao Circle road (Rs. 3.79 crore); Mission Street to Rao and Rao Circle road (Rs. 1.38 crore); Kulai-Kana Road (Rs. 4 crore); Shamsuddin Circle, Surathkal to railway level- crossing road (Rs. 4.28 crore); and Hosabettu-Baikampady Road (Rs. 2.14 crore).

INDIA'S FIRST PCPIR CLEARED FOR MANGALORE WITH TOTAL INVESTMENT ECEEDING 2,31,000 CRORES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MANGALORE has beaten all its rival cities by getting India's first PCPIR .


NEW DELHI/MANGALORE, May 29, 2008: The Mangalore Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) has finally come through. The Central government on Wednesday cleared the project with an in investment of 30,000 crores. A Special Purpose Vehicle will be launched to see through the project including land acquisition, licensing and global tendering and shopping. As per the project proposal, the PCPIR will include the Mangalore special economic zone, the New Mangalore port and Mangalore airport. The project will be executed in three phases from 2008-2026 (first phase 2008-2014, second phase 2015-2020, third phase 2021-2026)

According to the sources in the ministry of chemicals and petrochemicals at New Delhi who exclusively spoke to the Mangalorean.com the project will now be given an ‘operational form’ by the end of July and will be sent for final drafting. The sources said the state government had proposed this project in 2006 through the Karnataka State Industrial Investment Corporation (KSIIDC). The total investment that the PCPIR might attract was to the tune of Rs. 2,31,000 crores. The proposal had not been accepted following the Mangalore city not having the required infrastructure facilities for hosting such a large organization.

http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?...adcastid=79461

http://www.mangaloresez.com/index.php

Road measuring 100 feet will be laid and the KSRTC Depot and the Fire Service Station will be shifted to the Millaghatta tank to facilitate the construction of the private bus stand and the renovation of the KSRTC Bus Stand, which are located side-by-side. The Government has already released Rs 4.71 crore to the Shimoga Urban Development Authority (SUDA) to take up the laying of the new road.
http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=589463&lang=1

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/4646/btpsli5.jpg

The Bellary Thermal Power Plant (BTPS) is the first mega power plant to be set up by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL). The BTPS is at Kudutini village in Bellary. The unit-1 commissioned in July with capacity 500-MW is inagurated today. The cost of unit-1 is Rs 2,100 crores. Its 275 meters long chimney is the tallest one in India. This unit would produce approximately 10 million units a day which is one fifth of Bangalore’s daily demand. Initially, the unit will generate 150 MW power. The project is carried out by BHEL.

The unit-2 civil works have started. Total cost of unit-2 is estimated to be Rs. 2092 crores. The Work on unit-2 is expected to be completed by November 2010. The unit-3 is likely to receive the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) clearance by March 2009. The cost of this unit is estimated to be Rs. 2400 crores and expected to be ready in February 2011. Once unit-2 & unit-3 are completed combined capacity of BTPS will be 1500-MW.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/karnatakas-first-500-mw-thermal-plant-goes-on-stream_100114449.html
http://www.karnatakapower.com/bellary.htm


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8891/btpschimneyvv5.jpg

The state-owned KPCL is also generating an additional 50 MW power from its Alamatti Power House. Karnataka is receiving additional 150 MW power from the Central Grid. The state was facing power shortage during peak hours and now all these measures would ease it to some extent.

With the commissioning of the Bellary plant, the total installed capacity in the state will go up to 6,010 MW. Hydel power units account for 3,322 MW, and thermal power units 1,970 MW, including 1,470 MW from seven units of Raichur thermal plant. The remaining 718 MW is generated from wind energy and captive units in the private sector.

As per a KPCL officer “The unrestricted peak demand of the state has shot up to 8,000 MW due to increasing consumption by agriculture, industry and domestic sectors. The average consumption is 120 million units per day during peak season as against 100 million units per day last year, registering an increase of about 20 percent,”

By 2012 Karnataka's power situation is expected to improve as by then hopefully Chatisgarh, Lanco Udupi plants will be ready. Additional capacities hoped to come from coal based mega projects in Tadadi-UK, Chamlapura-Mysore, Ghataprabha-Belgaum, Jewargi-Gulbarga & Kudagi-Bijapur and gas based mega plants planed in Bidadi & Mangalore.

http://www.dc-epaper.com/dc/dcb/2008/08/17/ArticleHtmls/17_08_2008_004_001.shtml#



Mangalore's Tallest Residential Building U/C (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=27006280&postcount=766)

deleted.

Three units in Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS), a major supplier to the state, were shut down due to technical problems, resulting in about 1,000 MW shortage in the state.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Power_cuts_are_back_in_Bangalore/articleshow/3670671.cms

RTPS:
-----
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7849/rtps1multifluechimneyil7.jpg http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6406/rtps2sl0.gif

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4066/rtpsunit4naturaldraftcoaf2.jpg http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5471/rtpscd2.gif

Raichur Thermal Power Station is situated about 20 kms. north of Raichur. There are 7 units of 210 MW capacity each. The annual generation is around 10,000 Million Units. The units were commissioned during various periods starting from 1985. The latest (7th) unit has state of the art control systems. This unit was commissioned in a period of 25 months setting a new national record. The station has a zero discharge water conservation system of the ash pond water. Roughly, 7 Million Tonnes of coal are received every year. Coal sampling is done by mechanical augur system. One more unit of 250 MW will be put up shortly.
http://www.karnatakapower.com/raichur.htm

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/8571/rtps3flyashsiloforashhafu9.jpg


Mangalore's Tallest Residential Building U/C (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=27006280&postcount=766)

Karnataka MLA Mr Anand Singh has ordered 20 helicopters for his ambitious private project on heli-tourism. The project is currently pending approval from the state government. Initially five helicopters would be taken on lease and introduced along the Hampi circuit to cover Hampi, Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal. As per the plan a total of 20 helicopters will be placed in Bellary, Mangalore and Shimoga to cover Hampi-Bijapur circuit, Coastal circuit and Malenadu circuit. This would be the first heli-tourism project of India.
---- Todays Times of India

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.phpoption=com_content&task=view&id=18818&sectionid=22&issueid=77&Itemid=1
http://www.bangalorebest.com/Archives/Heli_hop.asp

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4277/kauphampijogox8.jpg


Mangalore's Tallest Residential Building U/C (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=27006280&postcount=766)

Karnataka government has proposed to set up information technology (IT) zones in Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Shimoga and Gulbarga.

The government has initiated a proposal to set up an independent IT, BT and S & T authority, which will offer single window clearance for all IT/BT related projects.

Semiconductor policy for the state is also on the anvil. The focus would be on manufacturing of solar PV cells required for generation of solar energy.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?tp=on&autono=49077


Mangalore's Tallest Residential Building U/C (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=27006280&postcount=766)

sorry. Fake website

@india 1


the above post definitely cannot be in belgaum and that site hudi hudi is fake...:bash:

http://www.hudihudi.com/goodones/bangalore.htm

All good dreams on Karnataka.

http://www.hudihudi.com/goodones/bangalore.htm

All good dreams on Karnataka.



how are such websites functioning.........is there any law to take action against such fakies.????

Karnataka has decided to spend Rs.400 crores (4 billion rupees) to purchase electricity from various sources like GMR, JSW and central grid. The state is facing acute power shortage due to shutdown or reduced production at RTPS, BTPS, Sharavati, Nagajhari and Varahi. Center has agreed to provide 50 MW of power as a immediate relief. 2000 MW NTPC unit will be setup at a cost of Rs. 10000 crores (100 billion rupees). For 4000 MW Kudagi, Bijapur plant tender will be called on March 2010. Centre has given its nod to the proposed 4,000MW UMMP at Kudagi near Bijapur, on the condition that it gives back about 1,000MW to the central grid.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7852/prajavanidi8.jpg


http://www.prajavani.net/Content/Nov102008/bangalore20081110103327.asp?section=updatenews
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200811071031.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Centre_gives_nod_to_4000MW_power_plant_at_Kudagi/articleshow/3696367.cms

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/10/17/NjY5NDc%3D/Belgaum_SEZ_to_be_completed_by_December.html

Quest Global has received the Government of India notification for its Aerospace and Automotive SEZ project in Belgaum. Phase I of the SEZ will be operational by December 2008 and Phase II is expected to be operational by June 2009.

1. NWKRTC Hubli Bus Stand
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8683/nwkrtchubliiu4.jpg

2. NEKRTC Gulbarga Bus Stand
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8048/nekrtcgulbargauq2.jpg


Source: http://ppp.rajasthan.gov.in/newsevents/KARNATAKA-05-06-08.pdf

^^^^^^
i wish to see more developments in tier two cities of karnataka.......amd not just bangalore...CM Yeddi is better than all other CM's we have had till date in this regard..............

http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/13/stories/2008111359140300.htm

70 per cent of the work has been completed: AAI official







THE HINDU CHENNAI

ongoing: A file photo of the work in progress at the new integrated terminal building of Mangalore airport.

MANGALORE: The new integrated terminal building of the Mangalore airport is expected to be ready by January-end, according to L.L. Krishnan, Regional Executive Director, Airports Authority of India, Southern Region, Chennai.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Krishnan said that 70 per cent of the building works had been completed.

About 90 per cent of the work on construction of the main structures had been completed. The terminal building and associated facilities were being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 147 crore.

He said that the AAI would make all efforts to complete the new terminal building as a “Sankranti” gift for the people.

Mr. Krishnan said that the AAI would build a full-fledged fire station at the airport. It was expected to be ready in six months.

Mr. Krishnan said that the State Government had shown interest in developing air strips in Shimoga, Kodagu, Gulbarga, Bidar, Bellary, Chikmagalur and Karwar. The AAI was committed to providing air traffic services to these airports. “We will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government to this effect,” he added.

He said that the AAI would provide night landing facilities at Belgaum airport. It had planned to strengthen the runway at the airport at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crore, he said. Night landing facilities had already been provided at Hubli airport.

Asked if the reduction in the number of flights by some airlines due to increase in fuel cost would affect the revenue of the AAI, he said, “We will wait and watch.”

Mr. Krishnan was here in connection with the valedictory function of the AAI’s national-level football tournament hosted by Mangalore airport.

^^^^^^
i wish to see more developments in tier two cities of karnataka.......amd not just bangalore...CM Yeddi is better than all other CM's we have had till date in this regard..............

Yes Akash. It is good for Bangalore itself if other cities are developed fast. Otherwise Bangalore's remaining greenery and lakes will also be wiped out to accomodate the migratory people from other parts of the state and the country.

Here is a list of malls in other parts of Karnataka excluding Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore.

Belgaum

1. Nucles Mall at Ramling Khind Galli (where Kapil Theatre was)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2488/pyramidnucleusbelgaum75ct5.jpg

2. Yash Mall is under construction at Sadashiv Nagar Cross on Ambedkar Road.


Hubli

1. Suntek Mall coming up at Gokul Main Road 340,000 Sq. Ft.

http://www.sunteckindia.com/sunteck_upcoming.htm
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/9884/sunteckhubligallery1hi1.jpg

2. Raiker Entertainments Mall-cum-Multiplex, B P Road, Vidyanagar (250,000 sqft)


Garuda Malls are coming up in Hubli (120,000 sqft), Davangere (120,000 sqft) and Mysore (400,000sqft).
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050502192100.htm

Urban Oasis Malls are coming up in Hubli, Davengere and Mysore.
http://www.urbanoasis.co.in/

INOX multiplexes are coming up in Hubli, Belgaum and Mangalore.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=335759

Akash, do you have a list of Mysore Malls?

MANGALORE MALLS (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=27490416&postcount=824)

^^^^


Belgaum,Nucleus Mall


http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/9488/mallkv4.jpg


sorry krishnamoorthy i dun have any list of malls/upcoming in mysore...but i am sure something big is coming up at the KR cirlce.....by the sight of its substructure it seems to make a very huge superstructure........will update that soon..........:)

^^^^

sorry krishnamoorthy i dun have any list of malls/upcoming in mysore...but i am sure something big is coming up at the KR cirlce.....by the sight of its substructure it seems to make a very huge superstructure........will update that soon..........:)

There are many malls coming up in Mysore by 2010 as per this link http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/sep/22spec.htm

Prozone Mall - 8 lakh sq ft,
Kshitij Mall on 5 acres near Mysore Palace,
Garuda Mall on 2.5 acres on BM Road,
Shobha Developers Mall on 5 acres,
Ideb Mall on 1.85 acres,
Valdel Unitech Mall on one acre in Nazarbad.

Grand Mall (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12326860@N02/2205190387/)
Brigade Point (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=17827168&postcount=105)

I visited Mysore some five years back. My picturization of current Mysore is based on whatever there in http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=134978

^^^^^^^^

u can check out my album of mysore

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=720846

The State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC) on Wednesday cleared 12 investment proposals to the tune of Rs. 7,080 crore, which have potential to create 82,393 new jobs.

Bangalore -

HAL Aerospace Unit near BIAL at a cost of Rs. 2,095 crore (285 jobs?)
IT and ITES Park by D.M. Estate at a cost of Rs. 336.28 crore, which would create 13,900 new jobs
a Rs. 129.50-crore plastic industry to be set up in by Plastic Udyog Nagar (5,000 new jobs)

Ramanagara -

two separate automobile industries to be set up by Stanzen Toyotetsu and JBM Auto in at a cost of Rs. 173 crore and Rs. 81.95 crore respectively.Together, they will create 849 new jobs.

Balgalkot -

a cement manufacturing expansion unit at a cost of Rs. 520 crore by Nirani Cements (700 new jobs);
an energy generation project by N.K. Utilities at a cost of Rs. 1,740 crore (500 new jobs);

Dakshina Kannada -

Rs. 302-crore multi-utility commercial and tourism complex in by Jaiprakash Group (11,100 new jobs)

Mysore -

establishment of a rubber park in Msore at a cost of Rs. 137 crore by Rubber Marketing (4,500 new jobs);

Belgaum -

Rs. 90-crore co-generation project to be set up by Satish Sugars Limited (177 new jobs)
Rs. 75.65-crore sugar factory to be set up in Belgaum by Basaveshwara Group (282 new jobs)

Raichur -

600 MW Thermal Power unit at Chicksagur (Yermarus) by KPCL (777 jobs)


http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112053530400.htm
http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=595568&lang=2

^^^^

great one:)

Dammam Nov 20: Jet airways Gulf and ME Manager Monu Mathew and his Easter Province Team said Jet airways was seriously considering to introduce direct flight from Mangalore to Dammam. He made this announcement during a get together organized by Darul Irshad Education Centre Dammam Committee here. Mr Mathew has also assured that direct flight will be landing on Mangalore soil by 15th of January

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=101733

Kuwait/Mangalore, Nov 20: Mangaloreans in Kuwait have one more reason to rejoice in the New Year season. Air India Express in its press release here today has announced direct non-stop flight to Mangalore Airport from Kuwait.

The state government has sanctioned Rs. 200 crores to develop Humpi heritage site at Bellary. The project consists of refurbishing the historic ruins at Hampi and initiating steps for establishing a Sanskrit University.

The Government has also identified around 250 acres in Hampi where hotels of different denominations and an amusement park will come up.

A zoo on the lines of the one in Singapore would be developed at Daroji bear sanctuary near Hampi.

The central government too has promised Rs 80 crore for the protection and preservation of monuments, and for further excavation to unearth more treasures hidden beneath.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1208452
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/241
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampi

Suzlon plans to commission 1,500 MW wind power in Karnataka in the next three years.

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=150954

This 80-year-old inspired the entire village of Kanbargi near Belgaum to contribute labour and money to build a road the bureaucrats had denied them for 61 years....

“It gives us great satisfaction to walk on this road and inspires us to take the utmost care of it; we don’t even spit on it.” ....

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=1&contentid=2008120120081201011850958e9692858&sectxslt=

A comprehensive traffic and transport plan (CTTP) is being formulated for the tier II cities in Karnataka. The cities for which the CTTP is being framed are Mysore, Mangalore, Belgaum, Hubli- Dharwad, Bellary and Gulbarga, which are administered by municipal corporations. The plans are being drafted on the directions of the Directorate for Urban Land Transport.

According to a recent study, urbanisation is going on at a fast pace. The urban population has risen 30 per cent. However, the growth in Karnataka has been 36 per cent. As a result, transport and traffic policies for these cities need to be formulated to match their growth.

In accordance with the National Transport Policy 2006, the Karnataka government had set up the Urban Land Transport Directorate in March 2007, directorate commissioner Gourav Gupta, who is also the managing director of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) told the media.

He was talking to them after inaugurating the work on drafting the CTTP for Mysore city involving stakeholders like Mysore City Corporation (MCC), Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda), Railways, KSRTC, Public Works Department and representatives of NGOs.

Before taking up the work in Mysore, the MCC, Muda and other agencies will be taken into confidence. Care would be taken to ensure the plan is implemented in coordination with the transport and other departments, he said.

The objective of the CTTP is to prepare transport and traffic plans for the six major urban centres with the estimated costs, keeping in mind the growth of those cities over the next 20 years.

The CTTP will be based on the land utilisation master plans prepared by the city authorities concerned and will ensure cost-effective and convenient transport, and traffic facility with speed and better comfort, which would ensure an orderly growth of the urban areas. The CTTP will prescribe short-term, medium and long-term transportation policies based on technical, economic and financial evaluation.

The contract for preparing the masterplan for Mysore has been entrusted to Delhi-based ICRA Management Consulting Services Ltd. It will prepare the plan in the next eight months, by June 2009. Besides, it will conduct supporting surveys after collecting data on land use, traffic density, road inventory data, economic, industrial and demographic data before chalking out the CTTP in consultation with the local bodies, elected representatives and the general public.

The CTTP will be prepared using the ‘Saturn’ software after collecting data from the surveys and from the related departments. Mysore city will have its own CTTP to suit its requirements bearing in mind the land usage over the next 20 years.

Development of roads, installation of ITS, facilities for pedestrians, parking, improvement of public transport facility and all such issues would form the objectives of the plan.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/major-traffic-plan-drawnfor-6-cities-in-ktaka/19/01/341747/

Karnataka can take pride in the fact it houses the country’s first government building that has won the IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) international Leed gold rating for its Police Bhavan in Gulbarga....
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/Sep252007/snt2007092427171.asp

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/3904/gulbargapolicebhavanfv5.png
http://gulbargapolice.blogspot.com/2008/09/wadgera-ps-crime-report_09.html

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/762/vikasbhavanlq1.jpg

http://gulbarga.nic.in/touristplace.html

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2531/police20aca20gulbhb9.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/934/faculty20block20police2tb7.jpg


http://www.klac.gov.in/Photo_Gallery.htm

The Karnataka cabinet today decided to seek Rs 1,500 crore as financial assistance from the World Bank to implement drinking water projects in the state. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) had asked the government for funds to implement drinking water projects to supply water to 15 districts affected by high fluoride and nitrite content.

The loan assistance is for a period of five years. This loan will ensure relief to about 1,370 villages in 15 districts of the state. The districts covered are Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Bellary, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagar, Mandya, Raichur, Koppal, Gulbarga, Davangere, Mysore and Tumkur.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=342267

Bangalore (PTI): The Karnataka Government on Thursday unveiled its new mining policy under which it will demarcate mining zones and grant concession.

Transparency will be followed while alloting mining rights and priority accorded to those establishing the industry in the vicinity of mining pits, State Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandjale told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

Issuance of any new licences will be "pre-conditioned to value addition in the state without destabilising the state's forest wealth and bio-diversity," she said.

Existing licence holders would be permitted to continue to sell and export. However, during time of renewal the licence would be reviewed, she said.

Modern technology would have to be utilised by those engaging in mining activities. No mining concessions would be permitted in environmentally sensitive zones,she added.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812042094.htm

The state government is eying the rich mineral resources in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The Karnataka State Mineral Policy 2008 would allow survey and exploration of minerals in these forests. For doing so, the policy states: "In future, with advanced methods of mining, it may be possible to extract minerals with minimum damage to the forest.''

Referring to the need for vigorous exploration, Karandlaje said: "The state has a reserve of 9,000 million tonnes of iron ore. For instance, during 2007-08, only 47 million tonnes was extracted.''

Encouraging value addition, scientific exploration of new mineral deposits, including coastal and seabed, notifying mineral bearing areas, zero-waste mining and exploring the feasibility of re-operating closed mines are among the features of the policy.

The policy elaborately stresses on value-addition. It states: "To maximize value-addition to the minerals extracted within the state by encouraging maximum investments in downstream industries. New mineral-based industries should be set up to match the available raw material resources.''

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/New_miners_cannot_export_minerals/articleshow/3794137.cms

Chennai, Dec. 4 Marg Ltd, a Chennai-based company engaged in infrastructure development, has won the contract for building and operating an airport at Bijapur, Karnataka.

The company today announced that the ground breaking ceremony for the project would be on December 7, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The airport is to come up on a 727-acre land at Burnapur village near Bijapur. Under a public-private partnership agreement, Marg will design, develop and operate the airport for thirty years. The agreement provides for extending the period further.

Mr G.R.K. Reddy, Chairman, Marg, told Business Line that the details of the cost of the project and the timelines for execution were being worked out. A 4,000 MW ultra mega power project is expected to come up near Bijapur. Marg believes that the traffic from the project, tourism and students would be sufficient to make the project viable.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120550911900.htm

BANGALORE: The state government is determined to get an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Karnataka. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has
written again to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding setting up of an IIT in the state.

The government of India, during the 11th Five-Year Plan, has plans to set up a number of IITs in different parts of the country. "It is really in true spirits of providing our youth more access to institutes of excellence. Karnataka, since Independence, has not availed the benefit of having an institution of national importance in technology," the CM stated.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/CM_writes_again_to_PM_on_IIT/articleshow/3794126.cms

BANGALORE: The state government on Friday approved the draft of the Vision Document 2020, which highlighted 12 key areas of transformation, to achieve the goals set by it.

The focus areas highlighted by the vision document prepared by the State Planning Board, include achieving rural prosperity through higher incomes from agriculture and allied activities, job-oriented growth through concomitant skill development of the workforce, besides developing a vibrant knowledge society.

Chairing the first meeting of the newly- constituted planning board (D H Shankaramurthy is the deputy chairman of the board), Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is also the chairman of the board, stressed the need to make Karnataka number one in terms of growth rate. "Though Karnataka has been maintaining a better rate than the national average, we are not among the top states," he said.

He also said that there were gaps in growth rates of different sectors.

"Moreover the economic growth rate has not helped eradicate poverty," he said.

Other key areas identified by the document:
* Improved access and availability of healthcare for all
* Achieving a sustainable and orderly process of industrialisation and urbanisation
* Enhancing opportunities for women and empowering them across economic, social and political spheres
* Bridging the gap between sociallybackward and vulnerable groups and the rest of the people
* Ensuring sustainability of the state's environment and natural resources
* Improving energy availability and developing infrastructure to boost productive potential of the economy
* Preserving and promoting Karnataka's rich cultural heritage
* Building and sustaining Bangalore's global leadership in science, technology and knowledge-based industries
* Improving governance through wider participation and deep democratic decentralisation.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Vision+2020+draft+document+approved+by+State+Government&artid=ihF59Row148=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

Gadag (PTI): The Gadag-Bagalkot broadguage line was today dedicated to the nation by the Minister of state for Railways R Velu.

The railways would consider diversion of few trains on the new line between Gadag and Sholapur, he said while addressing the gathering here.

The gauge conversion work on Bangalore-Hassan, Kottur-Harihar, Munirabad-Raichur, Bidar-Gulbarga were in progress, Velu said adding Karnataka would soon become a uni-guage state in the country.

To encourage tourism, the state was constructing 12 airports and as many airstrips, Yeddyurappa said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812062032.htm

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/2600/rnsresidencymurudeshwarfh7.gif
Photo Courtesy: RNS (http://www.rnsil.com/naveenhotels.htm)

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/8932/2694251310050233985hjkowr0.jpg
Photo Courtesy: webshots (http://image60.webshots.com/160/2/51/31/2694251310050233985hjkoUZ_fs.jpg)



Visit also Marathaman (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=22731556&postcount=204), HolidayIQ (http://www.holidayiq.com/Murudeshwara-hotel-photos-RNS-Residency-5756--1-h.html) for more pictures.

Bangalore : Two universities will be set up in the state after governor Rameshwar Thakur, who's the chancellor of universities, gave the
green light. He cleared an ordinance to this effect on Saturday, according to higher education department officials.

He had received draft ordinances sent by the government to start an agriculture university in Raichur and a horticulture university in Bagalkot. In the budget, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had kept aside Rs 5 crore for the proposed universities.

Currently, Karnataka has two agricultural universities in Bangalore and Dharwad....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Two_green_universities_come_up_in_state/articleshow/3752865.cms

Also Law University is planned in Dharwad. Hope even IIT will be coming up.

Bangalore: The impending energy crisis has made governments sit up and think, and the answer seems to be in tapping solar and wind energy.

With a focus on urban areas as they are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, two cities in the state will be among 60 in the country that will be transformed to "Solar Cities.''

Hubli-Dharwad and Mysore have been selected for the programme. The state would have selected more cities, a maximum of five, if not for the criteria on population. One of the conditions under the programme is the city's population should be between 5 lakh and 50 lakh as per the 2001 census.

The scheme intends to ensure at least 10% of the city's energy needs are met through renewable energy. This will be achieved through energy efficiency measures and generation from renewable sources. Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), along with the help of local administration, is preparing the master plan for the programme. "There is immense scope for tapping renewable energy sources. Our state is in a leading position in the country,'' said KREDL MD V P Hiremath.

The Centre intends to implement the programme in at least one and a maximum of five cities in each state, during the 11th Plan period. It has earmarked Rs 30 crore -- up to Rs 50 lakh per city.

What does the programme envisage?


Preparation of a master plan, including assessment of current energy situation, future demand and action plans to build capacity in the urban local bodies

Creating awareness among all sections of civil society

Involving various stakeholders in the planning to oversee implementation of sustainable energy options through public-private partnerships


How will it be implemented?

A 'Solar City Cell' will be set up to promote generation, organize training progarammes, workshops and business meets for various stakeholders like elected representatives, officials, architects, engineers, builders and developers, financial institutions, NGOs, technical institutions, manufactures and suppliers, resident welfare associations and the public.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Tapping_Surya_Vayu_for_future_needs_/articleshow/3733843.cms

Bangalore : The Economic Times of 5,000 MW of energy in five years, at the rate of 1,000 MW each year, should be the government's aim to
meet the state's energy needs. The current capacity is 2,000 MW of renewable energy with a shortage of 1,700-2,000 MW. K Jairaj, principal secretary, energy department, speaking at a seminar on clean development mechanism (CDM) and its benefits organized by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development (KRED) and the energy department, said the government was mulling over a renewable energy policy in the state.

KRED will be empowered to trade in carbon credits. The seminar deliberated on how the private sector could be involved in carbon credits. So far, the energy department has only focused on fossil fuels and it's about time alternative sources of energy like solar and biomass are tapped. "In Germany, several houses have solar panels on the roof. This is replicable in India too. Solar energy will be more important in the future,'' Jairaj said. The department will also mull over showcasing eco-friendly bulbs of Bescom and extend the scheme to Hubli, Mangalore, Mysore and other places.

He also said similar seminar would be held for alternative sources of energy, mini hydro and biomass in Bangalore as well as other parts of the state. The seminar was organized to get more carbon emission reductions (CERs) to the state and developers and help reduce global warming. The scope of CDM applicability is vast -- from renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, demand side management to waste management sector, housing and agricultural sector.

Presenting a paper on the potential of CDM, K Krishan, chairman, MPPL RE Pvt Ltd predicted that future trends would include more transparent and predictable baselines, demand for higher quality, new markets and equity investments in the sector.

CDM benefits

As of September 2008, Indian projects received CDM benefits worth 489.77 lakh CERs while Karnataka projects received CDM benefits worth 80.62 lakh CERs. Karnataka's share is 16.46%. Damian Miller, CEO, ORB Energy, told mediapersons that glass buildings generated more heat and led to consumption of more energy and, in turn, contributed to the carbon footprint.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Renewable_energy_policy_on_anvil_/articleshow/3770777.cms

State-run National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has submitted a proposal to the Karnataka government seeking permission to set up a five million tonne capacity steel plant in Bellary.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nmdc-evinces-interest-to-setplant-in-karnataka/00/16/342491/

Karnataka has begun groundwork on what could be the biggest power project offered thus far under the tariff-based competitive route, at the state-government level. Power Corporation of Karnataka Ltd, a state government undertaking, has proposed to set up a 4,000-mw coal-fired power project at Kudigi in Bijapur district. The project will be developed on BOO basis where developers would be selected using the tariff-based competitive bidding route, on the lines of the Centre's ultra mega power project series.

Speaking to Projectmonitor by phone, senior officials of the recently-formed Power Corporation of Karnataka said that land acquisition for the project was under way and that the entire requirement would be in possession in the next six months. They also said that there would be no major environmental concerns as there was no forest cover at the proposed site. The agency has now sought consultants for carrying out various pre-project activities like topographical survey, geotechnical studies, environmental impact assessment studies, detailed project report etc. Consultants are also being sought for preparing the documents for the formal bidding process will be launched in due course.

It is interesting to note that Kudigi was the alternative site that the state government had proposed to the Union power ministry for the 4,000-mw Tadari ultra mega power project in Uttar Kannada district that has been facing environment-related opposition. The Tadari UMPP has been in hibernation for quite a while now, and as reliably learnt, the Centre is not keen to revive it.

The 4,000-mw Kudigi project in effect means that the state government, instead of the power ministry, would pursue an ultra mega power project. The power ministry, while approving the site earlier, had also noted that the Kudugi site was not amenable for a UMPP given that it was not coastally-located nor was it a coal pithead site. PCKL officials said that even as the project was designed to run on imported coal, efforts were being made to secure domestic linkages as well. Bijapur is not a coastal district and imported coal would have to come from Mormugao Port that is some 350 km away, using the existing railway line. PCKL officials said that the Railways were carrying out a survey for determining the most optimal route. Industry experts opine that coal transportation over such a long distance might adversely impact the ultimate power tariff.

If the Kudugi project is granted UMPP status, it would be eligible for fiscal benefits but would also mean that Karnataka would have to share some of its power generated with other states, an industry expert noted.

Apart from the Kudigi project, Karnataka was pursuing three more projects-Chamalarapura (1,000 mw, Mysore district), Jewargi (1,320 mw, Gulbarga district) and Ghataprabha (1,000-mw, Belgaum district)-to be developed under the tariff-based competitive route. PCKL officials confirmed that the Chamalarapura project was scrapped, once again due to antagonism from local environmentalists. The other two projects had reached the RfQ stage but had to contend with technical hurdles raised by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission. PCKL is expected to invite requests for proposals after incorporating the revisions suggested by KERC, officials said.

Show of power on Karnataka

Incorporated in September last year, Power Corporation of Karnataka Ltd would be the nodal agency for new projects to be developed through the tariff-based bidding route. It would in effect act on behalf of the various state government-owned distribution companies which would be the ultimate purchasers of the power generated. The power situation in Karnataka is relatively better compared with other developed states, but rapid industrialisation warrants the need for large-scale capacity addition in the coming years. The estimated power requirement in the state during the first half (April to September) of 2008-09 was 17,392 million kwh that was fulfilled to the extent of 16,524 million kwh. The shortfall of 5 per cent compared favourably with the national average of 10.6 per cent. In the same period, the peak power demand was 6,230 mw, against which 5,595 mw was met. The peaking deficit was 10.2 per cent, lower than the national metric of 14.6 per cent.

Source: http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17516&secid=32

A sum of Rs. 226.55 crore released for zilla panchayats (ZPs) for taking repair works of rural roads before February end. Ms Karandlaje said ZPs have been instructed to invite tenders for road works before December 25.

Each district would get on an average Rs. 11 crore. If any inferior work was reported, the Government would ask the same contractor to repair the road again, the Minister said.

A sum of Rs. 818 crore has been released for taking up drinking water works in rural areas of the State. Funds would be utilised for drilling borewells, laying water pipes and supply of surface water to villages, she said.

The Government has submitted a Rs. 900 crore proposal to the Centre seeking funds under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission. The Centre was expected to clear the proposal soon, she said.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=104647

Hello All,

I have started a new project thread to cover Udupi including Manipal, Kundapur and Karkala taluks of Udupi district.

best wishes,
Krishnamoorthy

MUMBAI (Reuters) - JSW Steel, India's third largest maker of the alloy, will commission one of its blast furnaces with an annual capacity of 7 million tonnes by March, a top official told reporters on Friday.

The company is on track to revive steel production by January as demand is seen improving, Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sajjan Jindal said on the sidelines of an industry conference.

The firm had said last month it will cut output by 20 percent and had also delayed operation of the blast furnace at Vijaynagar in Karnataka.

http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-36995220081212

Mangalore: Minister for Power and Energy K S Eshwarappa said the State government had proposed to set up four thermal plants at Koodgi (4000 MW), Malur (2000 MW), Jewargi (620 MW) and Gataprabha (620 MW), and a hydel project of 270 MW at Shivanasamudram, here on Sunday. The Udupi Thermal Plant was likely to produce 500 MW by Dec 2009.

Addressing media persons, he said his government was purchasing 400 MW from Jindal and GMR and co-generating 300 MW from sugar industries, as a temporary measure to tide over the power crisis in Karnataka. In addition, the state would receive 500 MW power generated from Bellary and 230 MW from Varahi second phase in Jan, he claimed. Rural areas in the State would become beneficiaries of Niranthara Jyothi Scheme, he said.

....


http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=73&contentid=2008121420081214224222847138c6e61&sectxslt=

HYDERABAD: The slowdown appears to have had a direct bearing on the two proposed greenfield airports at Shimoga and Gulbarga in Karnataka.

The projects have been put on hold for now and the developers would evaluate their feasibility only after six to nine months.

Hyderabad-based Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC), along with Maytas and Vienna International Airport through its arm VIE India Project Development and Holding LLC, won the bids called by the Karnataka government some months ago.

Each of the airports was expected to cost about Rs 100 crore and the consortium took up the projects on build, own and transfer (BOT) basis. But, with the changing market scenario and difficulties in achieving financial closure for the projects, the developers have decided to defer the execution of these projects.

....

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1213899

The department of ports and inland water transport which controls minor ports in the state, is expanding the old Mangalore port to double its vessel handling capacity from the present 25 vessels. The department has recently cleared the proposal to construct a new jetty in the centre of the port at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.

According to old Mangalore port officials, the contract has been awarded to Kochi-based Geotech Constructions and the work is expected to be completed in one year. The construction of this 150-metre jetty, with a vessel handling capacity of 20 at a time, will make way for docking of medium-sized ships with 1,800-2,000 dead weight tonnage (DWT).

Currently, the port has two jetties with a capacity to handle 25 ships at a time. It is handling ships upto 1,600 DWT only. The new jetty is being constructed at the centre of the port on the Gurupur river.

During 2007-08, the port handled 21 ships. In cargo handling the port witnessed a drop of 14 per cent in the imports at 14,627 metric tonnes.

The value of the imported commodity was down by 18 per cent to Rs 16.2 crore. In terms of exported commodity handled during the year the port has witnessed a drop of 16.6 per cent to 64,882 metric tonnes. The value of of exports has, however, seen a marginal increase of 5.7 per cent to Rs 38.6 crore during the year.

Major commodities imported through the port were copra, dry fish, salt, cement, soda ash, clay powder, wheat and coconut shell. The major exports were sand, rice, granite jelly, high speed diesel, petrol, tiles, clay bricks, pig iron among others.

In terms of revenues, the port earned Rs 1.20 crore compared to Rs 1.27 crore in the previous year.

The port also handled 357 passengers who sailed off to Lakshadweep islands during the year. The state government has been making serious efforts to improve its port infrastructure with private participation.

The department maintains ten minor ports between Mangalore in the south and Karwar in the north. The other minor ports in the state are located at Karwar, Belekeri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarakatta, Malpe and Padubidri.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/state-to-double-capacity-at-old-mangalore-port/18/01/343202/

Madikeri, Dec.12 (DM)- The new Golf Course built by the Mercara Downs Golf Club at a cost of Rs. 6 crores in Madikeri will be inaugurated by the Principal Secretary of the State Tourism Department Sub-eer Harisingh tomorrow (Dec.13).

Disclosing this at a press meet in Madikeri, the Captain of Mer-cara Downs Golf Club M.A. Bopanna said that this ultra modern Golf Course containing 18 holes has been given a new shape. The Mercara Downs Golf Course has become one of the best locations for playing golf, he explained. Mercara Downs Club, which was established by the Britishers way back in 1890, currently has 500 members from across the State.

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=18963

Global slowdown casts a shadow on sale of flats in Bangalore

Bangalore: Real estate development in Bangalore and some of the other important cities of the State such as Mangalore, Mysore and Hubli-Dharwad has been severely hit with hardly any buyers for apartments. The global meltdown is said to be having a disastrous effect on real estate business in Bangalore, one of the fastest growing cities.

....

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/15/stories/2008121555200100.htm


Land rates boom in Shimoga

SHIMOGA: The recession may have taken down the realty sector even in giants like the US, but in Shimoga, the growing hub of real estate in the Malnad region, something quite the contrary is happening. Shimoga is experiencing never-seen-before growth in land value and has become a prime area for investments.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Land+rates+boom+in+Shimoga&artid=u6bcnf38VTM=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

But, there are problems with Shimoga Airport as posted earlier

Urban infrastructure, poor power supply, development limited to just around the Bangalore-Mysore corridor, unfriendly governance and regulations... the list can go on, for Karnataka is being voted as the least preferred destination for entrepreneurs according to a study done by consulting firm KPMG.
....


SOME RECOMMENDATIONS


Infrastructure: Speedy access to industrial and commercial land; Provide dedicated uninterrupted power supply through express feeders like Andhra Pradesh
Finance: Change the lending guidelines; Replicate angel network models such as Mumbai Angels
Governance and Regulation: Single window clearance; Broaden the use of initiatives like Andhra Pradesh E-Seva
Manpower development: Include entrepreneurial education at school and college level; Replicate National Skills Development mission
Local Environment and ecosystem: Increase visibility of incubator

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec172008/scroll20081217107155.asp?section=updatenews

Other sources
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Entrepreneurs_give_Karnataka_the_thumbs_down/articleshow/3849037.cms
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/14161782.htm
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/gujarat-most-preferred-destination-for-entrepreneurs-kpmgtie-study/15/56/51306/on

BANGALORE: A s part of the plan to increase the capacity of research on animal livestock and fisheries, the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University is planning to open two new biotech parks in the state. Speaking to Express, Suresh S Honnappagol, Vice-Chancellor of the Veterinary College said: “We are planning to open one animal and one marine biotech part in the state. The former will be situated at Bidar and the latter in Mangalore. Both will have state-of-the-art research facilities and will help in boosting genetic research on animal and fisheries in the state. The parks have a budget of Rs 50 crore.” These parks will be run as part of a public private partnership.

“Right now we haven’t outlined the details, but a micro plan is being prepared by the university scientists,” Honnappagol said.

However, the whole project needs approval from the Department of Biotechnology.

When Express contacted Ashok Kumar Manoli, principal secretary of Department of Biotechnology, he said that since it is a new project, all the details are being worked out. He was confident of the project getting approval within two months.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=State+to+get+two+new+biotech+parks&artid=HO3qG6q2j1o=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

The Centre is setting up food parks in ten states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, minister for food processing industries Subodh Kanth Sahay said in Mysore on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media after inaugurating the five-day mega event of food scientists and experts, the International Food Convention 2008 (IFCON), he said his ministry had already sanctioned Rs 50 crore to the government of Karnataka for the purpose, of which Rs 10 crore was for a modern abattoir.

....

Mysore had tremendous scope in food technology. Along with IT and BT, Mysore could place itself in a premier position in the country, Sahay said, while complimenting the contributions being made by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL).

....

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/centre-to-back-food-industries/13/06/343418/

Karnataka invites bids for Bellary airport project




1,000 acres identified on Sanganakallu-Moka road.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bellary, in the heart of steel, iron ore mining and heritage belt, will be the fifth non-metro airport project being planned in public-private partnership.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Our Bureau


Bangalore, Dec. 24 The Infrastructure Development Department of Karnataka has invited bids for building a greenfield airport in Bellary in the north.

About 1000 acres of land have been identified some 12 km north-east of the city on the Sanganakallu-Moka road, with access to State highway 132, the document put out by the IDD on Wednesday said.

The greenfield airport has been planned as the Airports Authority cannot take up expansion of the old airstrip at the city, according to IDD.

Bellary, in the heart of steel, iron ore mining and heritage belt, will be the fifth non-metro airport project being planned in public-private partnership.

Smaller airports


An IDD official did not say how much investment the project would warrant. In comparison, the relatively smaller airports at Shimoga and Gulbarga, each to come up on 650 acres of land, are attracting an initial air side investment of Rs 50 crore each, and their promoters have earlier said this would be doubled subsequently. The Hassan project has been earmarked 2,500 acres of land.

Asked if investors would respond amidst the economic downturn, the official said the project had much potential and should fetch a good response. The request for proposal document will be issued from January 14, 2009, and the bids would close on March 16.

Of the other four projects, Gulbarga and Shimoga have been awarded to Maytas Infra-NCC-Vienna Airport consortium; Bijapur to the Chennai-based MARG recently; and Hassan to Mr Rajeev Chandrashekar’s Jupiter Aviation.

A major district road up to NH63 will be developed as an alternative route. Bellary is some 70 km or two hours by road to the ruins at Hampi, a world heritage site and seat of the 15th-century Vijayanagar empire. Sanganakallu is home to Neolithic ruins. The region attracts one million tourists every year, half of them international travellers, according to the IDD document.



http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/25/stories/2008122551351700.htm

Belgaum railway station, the oldest in the region will get a face lift. The railway ministry has approved the proposal to construct a new state-of-the-art station building at a cost of Rs 3.67 crore. Belgaum based Môs Creators have prepared the blue print for new building model and plan.

As per the plan, apart from construction of new Station building, three buildings, two storied each, will be constructed for passenger reservation system (PRS). Adesh Sharma, senior divisional manager, Hubli division, informed that the new structure will have adequate parking space way, sub-ways for pedestrians, foot over bridges, general waiting hall, ladies waiting hall, AC waiting hall, food court and restaurants and space for stalls, and adequate circulating area for parking of vehicles among others.

Praveen Kumar, general manager, South Western Railway laid the foundation stone for construction of new station building, new computerised PRS and scooter parking building at Belgaum Railway Station last week on ground and first floors, , like auto rickshaw, four wheelers and two wheelers, deluxe pay and use toilet, retiring room and dormitory on the first floor, segregation of utility services from passenger area, wide portico with 6 lanes for vehicles to decongest the entry point, segregated pedestrian zone and adequate space for greenery.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/facelift-for-belgaum-station/12/11/344205/

Belgaum industries in dire straits
Tushar A MajukarFirst Published : 25 Dec 2008 03:23:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 25 Dec 2008 10:49:48 AM ISTBELGAUM: Lay-ofs, freeze in salaries, postponement of investment: Belgaum has woken up to the nightmare of global economic downturn. Recession has put thousands out of employment and hundreds of industries have closed down.


According to a survey, around 1,500 small and big industries have shut down due to rising losses. More than 20,000 people have been rendered jobless. Many of them have even quit Belgaum in search of jobs.

Speaking to The New Indian Express , Subhash Balekundri, president, Small Scale Industries Association (SSIA), Belgaum, said that the future looks gloomy for the industrial scenario in Belgaum. He said that the demand, which was more during November and December last year, was “all fake”. Balekundri said that it was all created by US entrepreneurs to withdraw their investments and the trick worked successfully.

Basavaraj Javali, Secretary, SSIA, Belgaum, said that many new entrepreneurs have been ruined due to the recession.

He wanted the government to reduce the interest rates loans. And since repayment of loans has become extremely difficult, he said that it should even waive-off the dues of the industrialists.

Javali said that the prices of raw material (Pig Iron), which many industries have purchased for Rs 38 per kg, has now dropped to Rs 23 per kg. The industries who have already stocked the material are not ready to process it. They prefer closure rather than work in such conditions, he added.

Sunil Nilajkar, a machine Shop owner at Udyambag has also become a victim of recession. Nilajkar has 6 lathe machines and had employed 6 skilled labours to man them. But all of them are without work at the moment. “Most of the jobs are provided to us by the automobile industries. But since are in a precarious condition themselves, almost 80 per cent of the machine shops in Belgaum have shut down.” Tough times are ahead for the industries in Belgaum.



http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Belgaum+industries+in+dire+straits&artid=qf6i40FUNWM=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=BELGAUM,%20RECESSION,%20INDUSTRY,%20ECONOMY

BANGALORE: The country's third largest telecom player in GSM arena, Idea Cellular, on Monday announced that its plans to invest Rs 300 crore in the
next 15 months to grow its business in Karnataka.

....

Announcing an expansion plan in small towns and rural areas, state and national highways and rail routes in Karnataka, Idea Director (Operations) Himanshu Kapania said the company planned to increase its coverage from current 3,410 to 11,200 towns and villages by March 2010 in the state.

Idea planned to offer one stop shop for all telecom services through 27,000 retail outlets and 1200 Direct Sales team.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Idea_to_invest_Rs_300_crore_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3909920.cms

Reliance Infrastructure Limited has proposed to take up four road works including the one on Bangalore-Mysore-Mangalore Road in the state.

Minister for Public Works C M Udasi said on Saturday that the government has no interest in taking up construction of a new road between Bangalore and Mysore as BMIC is already under progress. However, constructing a road between Mysore and Mangalore would be considered.

Other works proposed by the company are - Belgaum Raichur corridor via Bagalkot, Hungund and Lingasgur; Hiriyur - Bellary - Raichur road and Gulbarga - Bijapur - Belgaum Road via Jevargi, Athani and Chikkodi. The minister said that government has not yet taken a decision on awarding the work to the company.

The minister said that the government had plans to develop 40,000 kms road across the state. Many works would be taken up under BOT (Build Operate and Transfer) and Swiss Challenge arrangements. SPML Infrastructure Ltd has come forward to develop six roads under Swiss Challenge. The roads are Yelahanka - Kudumalakunte (Andhra Pradesh), Arasikere - Pandavapura, Hoskote - Chintamani, Mundaragi - Koppal, Hoskote - Tekal and Hoskote - Tamil Nadu boundary.

The company has also proposed to take three more roads - Dharwad - Alnavara - Ramangara, Chikkanayakanahalli - Hassan - Tiptur and Vagzhari - Ripponpet on BOT basis. The proposals are still at the discussion level. A decision would be taken on the proposals after the conclusion of bypolls, the minister said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Dec212008/state20081220107966.asp

....

For setting up the hardware park in Kolar and Tumkur, the government has land at its disposal. In Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), it plans to utilise the land owned by Bharat Gold Mines Limited, which was closed a few years ago. “In Tumkur, the government has land at many places, we will take a call once we get the applications from IT companies,” Naidu said.


http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/hardware-park-planned-in-kolar-tumkur/00/46/344657/

BANGALORE: The state government is determined to get an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Karnataka. Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has written again to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding setting up of an IIT in the state.

The government of India, during the 11th Five-Year Plan, has plans to set up a number of IITs in different parts of the country. "It is really in true spirits of providing our youth more access to institutes of excellence. Karnataka, since Independence, has not availed the benefit of having an institution of national importance in technology," the CM stated.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/CM_writes_again_to_PM_on_IIT/articleshow/3794126.cms

Delhi has turned a deaf ear to the decades-old demand for an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Karnataka and, like most other issues, it is being politicised. Bangalore has acquired fame as a knowledge city. What was once a pensioners’ paradise and garden city has come to be known as India’s Silicon Valley. Being ‘Bangalored’ has become a common expression in USA, because the city’s strong IT base has made it a world BPO centre.

The state has been attracting students from all over the country as it has the largest number of engineering colleges and is home to the prestigious Indian Institute of Science and the country’s second-best Indian Institute of Management.

All these is supposed to strengthen its demand for an IIT as these criteria mean it has the requisite academic atmosphere and infrastructure.

....

Earlier, it was said that the Suratkal Regional Engineering College, upgraded to an autonomous national institute, will be converted into an IIT.

Nearly 40,000 students pass out annually from about 140 engineering colleges in Karnataka and those aspiring to take up higher education have to either seek admission to IITs in other states or go abroad.

....

The only argument against the proposal is that when they were initially planned, in an era of extremely limited resources and little contribution from the corporate sector, it was decided to locate IITs and IIMs in different places. As Bangalore already has an IIM it cannot have an IIT, it is argued. As if this is a sacrosanct rule.

....

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Will+Institute+of+Technology+elude+Karnataka+again?&artid=uWPoXvh1dLY=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=Bangalore,+karnataka,+Indian,+Institute,+Technolog


Educationists pitch for IIT in Karnataka


BANGALORE: Karnataka will persist in its demand for an IIT, and send a delegation to present its case. This was iterated at a round table discussion organized by PES Institutions on Tuesday. The high-level power session had renowned scientists, educationists, corporate representatives and politicians, all joined by the common cause.

....

Chairing the session, Professor U R Rao argued against the Centre's stand that Karnataka had an IISc and IIM and so, did not need an IIT. He explained: "IISc is not IIT. IISc is a post-graduate and research centre. An IIT is an under-graduate centre. An IISc is not a substitute.''

....

Chairing the session, Professor U R Rao argued against the Centre's stand that Karnataka had an IISc and IIM and so, did not need an IIT. He explained: "IISc is not IIT. IISc is a post-graduate and research centre. An IIT is an under-graduate centre. An IISc is not a substitute.''

Rao had been asked in 1996 by the then HRD minister S R Bommai to recommend locations for new IITs in the 11th Five Year Plan. The committee had recommended Hubli-Dharwad.

....

"Bangalore is ideal for an IIT. We will press for an it in the Parliament session,'' he assured the gathering.

In addition, IISc was India's first PPP project, with land being given by the Mysore Maharaja. They could now explore the possibility of having an IIT on a PPP model, Ananth Kumar suggested.

....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Educationists_pitch_for_IIT_in_Karnataka/articleshow/3915560.cms

State-run National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has submitted a proposal to the Karnataka government seeking permission to set up a five million tonne capacity steel plant in Bellary.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/nmdc-evinces-interest-to-setplant-in-karnataka/00/16/342491/

Hyderabad: The National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NMDC) has evinced interest in setting up a steel plant in Bellary district of Karnataka.

“The Karnataka Government recently unveiled a policy, which states that mines will be allotted to those with value-added projects in the State. So if we have to acquire new mines in Karnataka, NMDC has to set up a steel plant there,” Rana Som, Chairman and Managing Director, National Mineral Development Corporation, told Business Line.

He added, “We have told the Karnataka Government that if the company is allotted new and rich mines, NMDC is prepared to make investments for steel making in the State.”

“We have also conveyed that depending on the size of the mine and amount of reserves it contains, we are ready to develop a steel plant of 10 mt,” Som said.

Apart from providing new mines, NMDC has also asked the Karnataka Government to provide land, water, power and coal block for setting up the plant.

....

http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14828065

A slew of infrastructure projects saw the light of the day in 2008, while some new projects came to the forefront.

The following are a few of them which have and which will usher the state to greater heights: Bengaluru International Airport The Bengaluru International Airport, which was opened for commercial operations, was constructed in partnership with the Bangalore International Airport Limited consortium at a cost of Rs 2,470 crore. The Trumpet Interchange connecting National Highway 7 and the airport was also constructed on a Private Public Partnership (PPP) basis.

Small Airport Projects Airports are being developed at Shimoga, Gulbarga, Bijapur and Hassan on a PPP basis and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) approved the development of these airports through private promoters on June 13 this year.

Upgradation of the Hubli, Belgaum and Mangalore airports are being undertaken at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

Besides, the state budget has paved way for the development of 11 airstrips in the state, each to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3 to 4 crore.

High Speed Rail Link In order to ensure a hasslefree traffic flow between the BIA and the city centre, it has been decided to construct a high-speed rail link between M G Road and the airport.

The Delhi Metro Rail Limited has been asked to prepare a detailed project report.

Railway safety measures, rail over-bridges and rail under- bridges The state government is undertaking various measures to improve the rail connectivity in the state.

The government will bear 50 per cent of the costs for constructing 38 rail overbridges and under-bridges across the state, which will make road transport more convenient.

The government will also release Rs 90 crore and Rs 5 crore for the laying of railway lines between Kotturu-Harihara and Munirabad-Mahaboob Nagar respectively.

A railway line has been laid between Gadag and Solapur which has been thrown open for the public.

The work on doubling of the railway track between Bangalore and Ramanagar has been completed and the government has released Rs 57.28 crore for laying of the railway tracks.

Besides, the government has also released Rs 40 crore to acquire land to lay a railway track between Bidar and Gulbarga. The government is supervising the land acquisition process in this regard.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=How+Karnataka+got+infrastructured&artid=8OB9ULiLzGo=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

Karnataka has dropped to 15th spot in e-governance satisfaction, according to a survey conducted by IDC, a global provider of market intelligence for IT and national e-governance survey.

....

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=World%E2%80%99s+IT+capital+is+India%E2%80%99s+No+15+in+e-gov&artid=kDtTv7uXR9w=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&SEO=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==

^^^^ bad news

The Karnataka sugar industry has overtaken Uttar Pradesh as the state with the second highest percentage of sugar recovery in the country for 2007-08 (October — September). This is for the first time that mills from Karnataka have achieved this, by recording an average recovery of 10.87 per cent sugar (about 109 kg of sugar for every tonne of cane crushed). UP, on the other hand, recorded an average recovery of 9.8 per cent during the year. Maharashtra continues to be in the first position with a recovery of 11.92 per cent.

According to an assessment of the sugar industry's performance for the sugar year ending September 2008 conducted by Delhi-based National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd, the sugar industry from Karnataka continued to remain the number one producer of sugar in South India and the third largest producer of sugar on an all India basis. In terms of the total quantity of sugarcane crushed and sugar produced, the mills from Karnataka remained at the third position by producing 2.92 million tonnes of sugar after crushing 26.7 million tonnes of cane.

....

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/state-claims-2nd-place-in-sugar-recovery/07/01/344869/

42-km stretch of the road from Chikmagalur to Kadur will soon be converted to a 4-lane road at a cost of 120 crores.

Energy minister K S Eshwarappa has laid foundation for a 100-crores mini hyder project at Gajnur Tunga dam. He said that the center has approved a major thermal power plant (of capacity 4500 MW?) in Bijapur.

Source: Times of India

When the BJP govt was in power at the Centre they had proposed a list of ITT' s mainly on merit and that included upgrading KREC to IIT. But after the new govt came in all that was thrown to the dust bin and they invented an entirely new list to satisfy the whims and fancies of various politicians. It was then decided not to tpouch REC's and they upgraded them to NIT which might have been fair . But the whole issue has been sadly embroiled in controversy.This is the sad state of politics in our country!

As far as Karnataka is concerned, 2008 has been on the whole, a year of more pluses than minuses in the higher education sector. On the plus side, we find the budgetary allocation for higher education in the state has significantly increased in line with the increase in the Central as well as of the several state budgets in the country for higher education.

This may be attributed to the higher rate of growth of our national economy during the last decade, primarily owing to the emergence of the knowledge society. We now find strong participation of the state government in setting up of government colleges in science, engineering, medicine, dental streams.

....

The state government has taken up several initiatives during 2008, such as setting up of the State Knowledge Commission, committees to recommend amendments to the current Karnataka State Universities Act and is pursuing the recommendations of the task force for Higher Education in Karnataka for setting up of a State Council of Higher Education in Karnataka.

There has also been progress in the process of granting autonomy to identified colleges, particularly in the engineering colleges that are affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum.

The Central government has sanctioned a central university for Karnataka to be set up at Gulbarga and another central university of excellence to be set up at Mysore from the academic year of 2009-10.

....

The sanctioning of new universities for horticulture, law, Sanskrit and music by the state government is certainly indicative of the high priority being given to the higher education sector in the state.

However, Karnataka’s laudable efforts towards improving access, inclusion of students belonging to backward communities, excellence, and quality in the higher education needs to be sustained through the successive developmental plans of the state.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Education+leaps+higher+in+Karnataka&artid=TwbAv4bDWX4=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

In a meeting conducted with Minister K S Eshwarappa district officials have told that airport work will start in 15 days. The target date for completion of airport is May 2010. The project is approved by central government and it will get defence approval in a weeks time and work will commence after this. The connecting road to airport will also be built after procuring land. Another connecting road will also be built through Machenahalli.

First stage of private bus stop work will finish in January 2009. And complete work will be done by 2010.

There is also a plan to build a multi-storeyed commercial complex using sites available at Shivappa Nayak Market, Veterinary Hospital and District Industrial Center.

http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=608971&lang=2

Urban Developement Authority is acquiring 110 acres of land for various township projects.

Indira Gandhi Road will be widened. Kartikere-Muktihalli by pass road is planed. Ring road works are going on in three places.

Hiremagalur lake will be developed as a water park with boating facilities.

http://www.udayavani.com/showstory.asp?news=0&contentid=608974&lang=2

In a bid to speed up the capacity to meet the steep demand for energy, the Karnataka Government has advanced the development of three power projects (of 660 MW each) in collaboration with the Bharat Heavy Electricals during the 11th Five-Year Plan period itself against its original decision to take them up in 12th Plan.

The three projects would be located at Edlapur and Yeramaraus in Raichur district. Yeramaraus would have two projects of 660 MW each. The Government would be signing MoUs with BHEL in Delhi on January 12. It will also be entering into a separate MoU on the same day with the National Thermal Power Corporation for setting up a 4,000-MW thermal power project at Kudigi in Bijapur district, said the Minister for Energy, Mr K.S. Eshwarappa.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said the details and cost of the three projects would be announced after the MoU was signed. He said KPCL (Karnataka Power Corp Ltd) and BHEL would invest 26 per cent each in the projects. Boards of BHEL and KPCL had given their approvals for the projects, he added.

....

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/karnataka-bhel-speed3-power-projects-/374333

BANGALORE: Karnataka’s much anticipated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy is finally here. The highlights of the draft policy expectedly are
exemption from stamp duty, land registration fee, waiver of electricity duty and payment of 1% labour welfare cess. Land acquisition process has been made easier with units allowed to be set up even on single crop agricultural land.

SEZs are increasingly seen as tools to jump start economic growth by governments. Karnataka’s lack of one was seen as impeding its industrial growth. The draft policy was put out for comments on Tuesday by the industries department. Objections have to be tabled before January 11. After which the final notification will be used subject to state cabinet clearance.

An important feature of Karnataka’s policy is the provision for a single point clearance. A unit approval committee headed by the Development Commissioner is being created for this purpose. Interestingly, the policy has invoked Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) Act 1966. This empowers the government to acquire the required land for the SEZ and transfer it to the developer of the unit subject to certain central provisions.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/SEZ_policy_to_allow_easier_takeover/articleshow/3944679.cms

Bangalore (PTI): Karnataka government is mulling privatising rural roads taking a leaf out of the Gujarat model.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje said a detailed project report would be prepared shortly. Thereafter, a meeting of bankers would be convened followed by one of companies and investors keen on getting involved in the project.

Total length of village roads in Karnataka is 1.5 lakh kms but the Government intends to privatise some 67,000 kms of main roads in rural areas mainly linking villages with each other.

Karandlaje said many of the rural roads constructed by government agencies are in poor condition. The idea is to pool in the same amount of funds generally used by her department and Public Works Department and get the work done by the private sector.

The private sector-constructed roads would not be toll roads. Companies engaged in the work would be paid on an annuity basis over a ten-year period.

....

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200901080931.htm

BANGALORE January 7, 2009: Karnataka government has decided to create a land bank for the benefit of industries looking to set up shop in the State, said Large and Medium Scale Industries Minister Murugesh R Nirani.

He told reporters here dry land ranging from 500 acres to 10,000 acres, particularly near national highways and railway stations, suitable for industries, have been identified in 18 districts.

The Government would look into industrial proposals as they come and allot land. These land would be acquired in phases as per requirement. Government wants industrial investment in all districts.

The Minister said while land could be acquired in Bijapur district for Rs two lakh an acre, it's around Rs one crore near Bangalore. Government would put all information relating to the land bank, availability of water and raw materials, skilled and unskilled in all those areas enabling prospective investor from anywhere in the world to know the ground situation.

He also said that clearances from all concerned departments would be given within ten days of industrial proposals cleared by the Government. Nirani said industries who inflated their land requirements to using it for real estate purposes have been issued notices.

He said the government would bring out a new industry policy soon to encourage investment in the state. The government has also come out a new SEZ policy, he said.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=108073

President Pratibha Patil inagurated Karnataka's largest Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga yesterday.

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp20/20090107budha10.jpg

http://mangalorean.com/images/newstemp20/20090107budha1.jpg

Courtesy: Mangalorean (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=108000)

Bangalore : After Satyam Computer Services Ltd chairman Ramalinga Raju admitted to a fraud of Rs 7,000 crore by him, the consequences are
likely to hit the infrastructure development sector in Karnataka.

The revelation has made the state government to sit up because Maytas Infra Pvt Ltd -- a company promoted by Satyam -- has been involved in some key infrastructure development projects in the state on a public private partnership (PPP) basis.

Tejraj, son of R Raju, owns Maytas and is involved in projects like building Shimoga and Gulbarga airports, besides being part of a consortium in constructing the elevated expressway connecting Silk Board Junction to Electronic City.

Where the tremors might be felt:

Shimoga and Gulbarga airports
The infrastructure development department (IDD), the nodal agency to execute airport clearances, has signed a project development agreement with the consortium comprising Maytas, Nagarjuna Construction Corporation (NCC) and VIE India Project Development and Holdings to build Shimoga and Gulbarga greenfield airports. Estimated cost of each project is Rs 110 crore.

Elevated expressway
Maytas is also part of a consortium that is developing an elevated toll expressway connecting Bangalore and Electronics City. This is located at Bangalore-Hosur section on NH 7. The project under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) worth Rs 775 crore is handled by a consortium comprising Soma Enterprise Ltd, Nagarjuna Constructions and Maytas Infra.
While government officials maintain that it is premature to make any comment on a re-think of continuing partnership with Maytas, NHAI has said the elevated expressway would not be halted as the financial closure for the project was completed in October 26

KPTCL sub-stations
Even the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) has arrived at an agreement with Maytas Infra. The company is said to have bagged the project from the KPTCL for construction of seven 110 KV sub-stations along with transmission lines on a turnkey basis in Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur and Hubli. The total value of the project is Rs 67 crore.

Bangalore Metro Rail
Another key area where the company has its hand in Karnataka is the prestigious Bangalore Metro Rail project. Maytas has been awarded the contract for construction of boundary walls, roads, drains and earth filling for the Byappanahalli depot. The project, which is in progress, involves site development for metro car sheds. The contract value is Rs 42 crore.

The entire logistics and manpower training for the Arogya Kavacha -- the emergency medical response service on the toll-free helpline number 108 -- is said to be provided by Satyam's non-profit arm called the Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI).

Bangalore-Mysore highway
On the positives, Brindavan Infrastructure Company Ltd, a `special purpose vehicle' created by Maytas Infra along with Nagarjuna Construction Company and KMC Constructions Ltd, has successfully implemented the four-lane Bangalore-Mysore highway on NH 17 worth Rs 240 crore. The company has also completed building 5.5-km-long Sira by-pass road.

BMIC
Maytas was also involved in the construction of Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) peripheral road project. A consortium -- Karnataka First Consortium -- were formed involving four companies: Maytas Infra, GVK Infra, Nandi Intellectual Properties and Indus Capital Partners. The consortium has submitted a proposal to the government proposing to build nine expressways with a length of 2,496 km.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Maytas_have_hand_in_state_projects_/articleshow/3953708.cms

....

The entire logistics and manpower training for the Arogya Kavacha - the emergency medical response service on the toll-free helpline number ‘108’ launched in November is being provided by Satyam’s non-profit arm - the Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI).

....

JSW Steel Project - Karnataka: Maytas Infra has received an order from JSW Steels, Bellary to build an industrial township. The value of the contract is Rs 53.60 crore excluding taxes. The total built-up area of the township is approximately 6,70,000 sq ft (500 Units). For Maytas Infra it is the first Industrial Township Project.


http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Satyam,+Maytas+knee-deep+in+State+pie&artid=ezj1ZPQZneQ=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&SEO=KPTCL,+Satyam+Computers,+Maytas,+Karnataka&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==

Chennai (PTI): The Karnataka government has chalked out a series of new initiatives in tourism to attract more foreign tourists to the state, a top official said on Friday.

"The new initiatives include introduction of helicopter services, cruise sports, setting up boat houses and giving facelift to the government owned tourist resorts," Karnataka Tourism Director K Viswanatha Reddy told PTI here.

He said that Karnataka government had earmarked Rs 140 crore in its 2009 budget for tourism development in the state.

"We are inviting private operators to start new helicopter services in Mangalore and Hospet, to construct boat houses in the coastal areas of the state," he said adding "apart from this all our tourist restaurants would be renovated at par with star hotels".

"We are also going to launch a night safari in Bannerghatta National Park," he said adding this initiative would also attract tourist especially those are coming from other countries. Reddy, who was here to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, said about 6 lakhs foreign tourists and 270 lakhs domestic travellers had visited Karnataka in 2008.

"We expect a growth of 10-20 per cent in the foreign tourist arrival after these new initiatives," he added.

He also said that a domestic tourist spends about $114 per day in Karnataka while foreign tourists spend about $342 per day in the state.

Claiming that the current recession had not affected Karnataka's tourism growth, he said "infact during the last six months there has been a significant increase in foreign as well as domestic tourists."

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200901091732.htm

Hosangadi (Udupi): Varahi, according to Hindu mythology, is one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu who rescued Mother Earth from demons and
brought happiness to all her inhabitants.

Quite like that, Stage two of the 230 MW Varahi Hydroelectric project, dedicated to the nation by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday here, is expected to rescue the people of Karnataka from demonic power cuts during summer. The commissioning of two units under Stage II marked the completion of the Varahi project after 30 years.

The project is the only underground hydroelectric power house in the state. Stating that work on other power projects would be taken up to generate about 5,000 MW of power in the next five years, Yedyurappa said: "What I like about this project is its workmanship and how it has been set up without much harm to environment.''

Karnataka Power Corporation MD S M Jaamdar said the Varahi project is expected to help the state generate an average of 860 million units of power annually at 90% dependability. Unlike in other power stations, the new units will function for eight hours (6-10 am and 6-10 pm) giving energy during crisis. "These units will eventually help the government save Rs 1.5 crore a day compared to power purchased from private concerns,'' he added.

Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Varahi_power_project_goes_live/articleshow/3961555.cms) on 11 Jan 2009


http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/praj_100109_vara2.jpg

http://www.daijiworld.com/images1/praj_100109_vara5.jpg

Courtesy: Daijiworld (http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=55603)

Old news

KOPPAL: “You name it, Koppal lacks it”, seems to be the dictum of development here for years. Even 2008 did not change this perception.

Promise of repairs of Tungabhadra Left Bank Canals (TLBCs), slippery hopes of Singatalur Lift Irrigation Project (SLIP), under-utilised potential of Hirehalla Project (HHP) and non-rehabilitation of the HHP-affected, have left the irrigation facilities high and dry.

Koppal has the dubious distinction of being the only district sans an engineering college in the state, thanks to the district administration.

Tardy pace of construction of District Institute of Employment and Training (DIET) in the face of mushrooming private educational institutions, depicts poor educational scenario.

Though the district hospital is short of space and staff, construction of 250-bed languishes despite release of funds.

Amidst all these odds, the implementation of state government’s health security scheme in the district for emergency cases, is a healthy step. The reported commencement of construction of a steel unit near Koppal by MSPL, holds out hope.

Contradictory stance of authorities concerned on the widening of NH 63 stretch, passing through Koppal, resulted in the uncertainty among people owning buildings and commercial complexes along the stretch.

Delay in re-construction of collapsed Hirehalla Bridge on the stretch, incomplete construction of NEKRTC bus terminus, absence of traffic police station, parking of private vehicles including buses on the pavements of the stretch and unrealised demand of a bridge at the railway levelcrossing, have added to traffic woes.

Construction of district stadium faces lots of hurdles.

However, the staging of a state-level ball badminton tournament was a positive aspect.

Justice continues to be delayed in Ashraya and KHB scams, involving misappropriation of crores of rupees.

Fortunately, the district enjoyed comforts of being free from any shadow of terrorism.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Yet+another+year+of+indifference&artid=tHd3NQWj3Do=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

NTPC and Power Company of Karnataka Ltd sign MoU

NEW DELHI: Central sector power PSU NTPC and Power Company of Karnataka LTD (PCKL) on Monday signed a MoU for development of 4000 MW Mega Power Project at Kudgi in Bijapur district today in Bangalore.

....

As per the MoU, NTPC will setup its maiden 4000 MW Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project (Stage I - 3x500 MW + Stage -II 2x 800 MW), in Bijapur District in Karnataka.

NTPC and KPCL also signed a MoU to setup 500 MW capacity Wind Power Projects in Karnataka. Earlier, the state government released an order allocating the 500 MW, Wind Power Projects during the MoU signing ceremony.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/NTPC_and_Power_Company_of_Karnataka_Ltd_sign_MoU/articleshow/3969016.cms


KPCL & BHEL joined hands to operate thermal power plants

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) have joined hands for setting up a joint venture
company to build, own and operate thermal power plants with supercritical parameters in Karnataka.

The projects identified to be set up by the joint venture company are Edlapur (one set) and Eramarus (two sets) in Raichur district of Karnataka.

....

BHEL has upgraded its technology base from sub-critical sets to supercritical sets of 660/800 MW and above. The company has ongoing collaboration agreements with Alstom, France and Siemens, Germany, with a technology transfer arrangement. This will enable the country to be self reliant in the field of supercritical thermal power plants.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Energy/Power/KPCL__BHEL_joined_hands_to_operate_thermal_power_plants/articleshow/3968816.cms


LNG Terminal for Mangalore

The state government was trying to bring LNG driven electric power plant to the state according to the Chairman of the Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation (KSIIDC) N.Yogish Bhat. He was speaking after conferring annual export award instituted by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=108547


Cabinet clears Shivanasamudra hydel project at a cost Rs 600 crore (US$123 Million)

Karnataka Cabinet on Friday has decided to execute the 270 mw hydel power project at Shivanasamudra in the Cauvery basin at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore (US$123 Million).

The project, which would be executed during the next four years by the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd would be one of the most economical power entity producing power at a cost of Rs 1.25 an unit.

There would be no submersion of land or wastage of water by executing the project, said Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje after a cabinet meeting.

The cabinet approved a proposal for buying 80 mw of biomass energy from 10 companies at a cost of Rs 5 per unit. A decision also been taken for reducing the cost of purchasing 300 mw of energy from the coogenation units of sugar factories at Rs 6.50 per unit against the earlier cost of Rs 7.20 per unit.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=108338&newstype=local

The Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is likely to invite EoIs for its upcoming restaurant and helipad projects. KSTDC plans to develop restaurants in Mysore, Coorg, Hampi, and Srirangapatnam on PPP basis. There will also be casinos and bars coming up along the Mangalore, Karwar coasts, to encourage coastal tourism.

The Department has proposed to encourage helipad tourism in Mangalore and Hospet. Plans have been chalked out to develop 14 more helipads in addition to the present 23 in the state.

http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=3123&sid=1

Other than Shivanasamudra and Bijapur power projects reported in the earlier post ^^^^ Karnataka Cabinet on Friday has decided to


Revoking the ban on registration of houses constructed on revenue lands in various urban local bodies, including Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits, before December 31.
Establishment of an IT Park and special economic zone by acquiring 37 acres of land in Shimoga at a cost of rs 15,46 crore by enlisting the help of private companies.
Allotment of 141.28 acres of land to the State Wine Board for developing a wine park at Toravi in Bijapur.
The cabinet also decided to introduce legislative bills in the Belgaum session like Karnataka Agricultural Universities Bill, 2009; Karnataka Horticultural Universities Bill, 2009; Karnataka Law Universities Bill, 2009; Karnataka Municipal Corporation Bill, 2009; Karnataka Sanskrit Vedic University Bill, 2009, and Karnataka Music and and Dance University Bill, 2009.
It has decided to withdraw Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) cess on cashew and cashew kernel to encourage exports.
The cabinet has decided to given a loan of Rs. 12 crore at three per cent rate of interest for Dakshina Kannada District Agricultural Marketing Federation. The Cabinet has given administrative approvals for roads project in Dharwad district (Rs. 10 crore), Belguam district (Rs. Six crore), Chikmgalur district (Rs. 7.5 crore).
Administrative approvals granted for building a bridge across the Ghataprabaha river in Bagalkot district (Rs. 6.09 crore), lift irrigation project in Bagalkot (Rs. 15 crore), and supply of drinking water from Almatti dam to 24 villages and two towns in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts (Rs. 59.92 crore).


http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=108338&newstype=local

Projects today reported that Karnataka Power Corporation will be setting up 3 solar power projects in Karnataka to tap natural resources. It is taking up the solar power projects on a pilot basis at an estimated cost of INR 225 crore.

Mr BS Yeddyurappa CM of Karnataka has laid the foundation stone for the country's first ever, 3 MW solar photovoltaic power plant at Yelesandra in Bangarpet taluk of Kolar district on January 9th. The power produced from the plant will be supplied to the state grid through an 11 kV transmission line, which is about 100 meters from the proposed plant. The cost of each megawatt will be in the range of INR 25 crore.

As per report, the other 2 projects will be set up at Itnal village in Chikodi taluk of Belgaum district and in Shikaripur taluk of Shimoga district. Each of these three projects will supply 3 MW of power during the day to the state grid, which is sufficient to charge around 400 irrigation pump sets and irrigate 1,200 acre.

KPCL has floated tenders for the projects in Kolar and Belgaum districts. So far, 24 companies, both domestic and international have participated in the tender including TATA BP Solar, BHEL, Sun Technics, Iso Photon of Spain, Zecon Solar of USA among others.

The report added that KPCL will use the solar photovoltaic modular crystalline technology for this entire project. For each plant the corporation requires 15 acre. The projects will be completed and commissioned by the next Kannada Rajyotsava falling on November 1st 2009.



Source: SteelGuru (http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/01/14/Nzg0MzU%3D/Karnataka_Power_plans_3_solar_power_projects.html) on 14th Jan 2009

BANGALORE: Maytas Infra has sought the state government's "support'' in completing the proposed airports in Gulbarga and Shimoga. The company, that has been on a radar of concern following the turn of events at its parent company Satyam Computers, has made the request citing a general economic slowdown and dip in air traffic.

....

Though the company maintained that it is in the process of bagging all the required clearances for the projects and set to commence construction in April this year, it has made the request due to concerns over dipping real estate and air traffic. The promoters' consortium is expected to invest Rs 100 crore each on the proposed greenfield airports.

....

The real estate leverage that the airport projects bring along has been highlighted by the company in its request to the government. "World over and especially in India, air traffic has come down significantly and the real estate market is not the same as it was 6-10 months ago. This is a problem being faced by all airport developers, including Maytas,'' the spokesperson said.

The company, though, pointed out that local clearances and environmental clearance have been obtained for both projects. The defence ministry has also directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to prepare an operating procedure for the Gulbarga airport because the airspace for the airport falls between defence airspaces at Bidar and Pune.

`No impact on deadlines'

Reacting to the Karnataka government's move to re-assess projects involving Maytas, the spokesperson said the company was "confident'' that the assessment would reinforce its credentials. The Rs-775 crore elevated expressway from Central Silk Board (CSB) junction in Madiwala to Electronic City, and the work taken up for Namma Metro will be unaffected, according to the company.




Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Gulbarga_Shimoga_airports_stuck_with_Maytas/articleshow/3990935.cms) 17 Jan 2009

BELGAUM: Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said that the State Government is facing financial difficulties owing to economic slowdown.

In his address to the joint session of the State Legislature here on Friday, the Governor spoke about the financial situation in the State and said almost all sectors of economy had been facing slowdown.

In his 23-page address, he said the information technology sector, which contributed a major share to the economic strength of the State, was hit by global economic slowdown. A downtrend was being experienced in the garment, automobile and other sectors of industry. There had been a marked reduction in the sale and registration of property, and consequently, revenue collection had been lower than what was anticipated.

The Governor said that the Government, however, was facing the serious responsibilities of providing adequate funds for all development projects from the State’s resources even in the backdrop of economic crisis. The Government was trying to mobilise funds for executing development projects within the framework of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, he added.

....

On providing connectivity to rural areas, he said the Government proposed to take up a State-wide initiative, and an integrated approach was being planned on a priority basis. Preliminary work on airports in Davangere, Bagalkot, Kushalnagar, Raichur, and Chikmagalur had begun. “It is expected that the airport in Mysore will start functioning shortly,” he said.



Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/17/stories/2009011750420100.htm)

CHENNAI: The World Bank has developed a new Investment Climate Index to help identify the key challenges and bottlenecks to be overcome in attracting business investment. In a policy research working paper, World Bank analyst Guiseppe Iarossi ranks the investment climate in 16 Indian States, using data from a survey of 4,000 entrepreneurs in 2005. Karnataka tops the list, with Kerala a close second. Tamil Nadu comes in at ninth place, overtaken by Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi.

Having identified 46 variables descriptive of the business environment in the 16 States, the researcher grouped them into three categories: inputs, infrastructure and institutions. Two dimensions were identified for each category: the objective indicators of cost and the subjective indicators of perception.

....



Source: The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/17/stories/2009011760211000.htm)

^^ its a good news....

some days back another survey ranked karnataka low in the same regard....

Kolar : Two highways in the state will be upgraded to National Highways standards. Union minister for surface transport T R Baalu confirmed
this on Sunday while laying the foundation stone for upgrading KR Puram-Nangali stretch of the highway here. The highway will have six lanes up to Hoskote and from there on, will be four-lane up to Nangali.

Also, the two state highways identified for upgradation to NH status are Mulbagal-Ranipet and Chittoor-Tirupati highways. Three more -- NH 206, NH 13 and NH 16 -- will also be upgraded.

"We did a survey on traffic density on these roads and found that they needed to be upgraded," Baalu said.

According to him, the Centre has spent over Rs 26,060 crore on road and port development in Karnataka. More than Rs 16,500 crore has been spent on upgrading 2,517 km of National Highways. Also, Rs 7,148 has been allocated to upgrade New Mangalore Port.

Survey on express-line

Union minister of state for surface transport K H Muniyappa said a survey will be done as a run-up to the proposed express-line between Bangalore and Chennai via KGF.

....




Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/2_state_highways_to_get_NH_status/articleshow/3998497.cms) on 19 Jan 2009

KOLKATA: The government plans to revive the century-old Bharat Gold Mines (BGML). The company was wound up in 2001 when gold prices fell below the cost of extracting the metal, and mining operations at its Kolar gold fields (KGF) were outsourced.

A draft offer document has been prepared, inviting global bids for starting mining operations. The selected bidder is expected to bring in requisite technology and necessary funds to restart operations.

....



Source: The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Bullion/Kolar_gold_rush_likely_to_resume_after_eight-year_lull/articleshow/3998893.cms) on 19th Jan 2009

BANGALORE: With the Central government’s permission, a Rs 10-crore project for starting an Ayurvedic University on 15 acres in Shimoga was being planned, announced Minister for Medical Education Ramachandre Gowda on Thursday.

....



Source: expressbuzz (http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Ayurvedic+varsity+planned+in+Shimoga&artid=fwYEBxfL74k=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&SEO=H+D+Srinivas&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==) on 15th Jan 2009

DAVANAGERE: As many as 50,000 farmers of the state will be switching over to natural farming soon and abstaining from chemical farming which has caused an adverse effect in the environment, according to district in-charge and state agriculture minister S A Ravindranath.

....



Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hubli/50000_farmers_to_switch_to_natural_farming/articleshow/4008115.cms) on 20th Jan 2009

....

The long distance that flowers have to traverse to reach Bangalore and lack of marketing facility in the districts are major hurdles in the floriculture industry. To address these problems, auction centres are slated to come up in six districts -- Belgaum, Udupi, Sirsi, Tumkur, Davanagere and Madikeri -- across the state at an investment of Rs 15 crore. It's a project under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikasa Yojana, a central government scheme.

....


All the identified districts are known for large areas under floriculture. Davanagere is known for its traditional flowers, chrysanthemum is widely grown in Tumkur district, Belgaum district is known for gerbera and roses, Sirsi district for orchids, anthurium grows abundant in Madikere district and jasmine in Udupi district.

....



Source: The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Floriculture_industry_set_to_bloom/articleshow/4023869.cms) on 24 Jan 2009