White topping, food park... big dreams for B'luru

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: While presenting the budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah doled it out big for capital city Bengaluru, announcing grants for road development, urban upliftment, water maintenance and the waste management system.

He has also earmarked money for new metro projects.

The CM announced measures to ease traffic congestion by completing white topping work in the city.

It has been proposed to reposition the Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) as Bengaluru Business Corridor to address traffic congestion and promote large-scale economic activities.

Additionally, an underground tunnel on a pilot basis, will be constructed at the i Hebbal junction where there is high traffic congestion.

To provide efficient health facilities, 430 free laboratories will be set up in the city in the Hub and Spoke model. An advanced robotic surgery facility is set to come up at the Institute of Nephro-Urology.

AS part of agriculture and horticulture initiatives, food parks will be opened at Poojanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district while a state-of-the-art international floriculture market will be established under Public-Private Partnership.

A library will be set up at Bengaluru University in memory of Padma Shri Dr Siddalingaiah.

A discussion is on to develop the Knowledge, Health Care, Innovation and Research City (KHIR) in 2,000 acres on the outskirts of the city.

The plan is expected to attract an investment of Rs.40,000 crore and provide employment to about 80,000 people. The limit for business during night time will be extended till 1 am in Bengaluru and 10 city corporations.

Steps will be taken to ensure 60 percent of signage is in Kannada in the nameplates of all offices, shops and commercial enterprises.

Plans are on to construct economic corridors from Mangaluru port to Bengaluru and Bidar.