PM Modi unveils projects galore in Bengaluru, Mysuru

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus in Bengaluru on Monday. The centre has been developed at a total cost of 280 crores and is said to aid in public health research in rural Karnataka.

He also laid the foundation for Bagchi Parthasarathi Hospital at the IISc campus. The 832-bedded facility is being constructed with the partnership of philanthropists Susmita and Subroto Bagchi and Radha and N S Parthasarathy, who have collectively donated a sum of Rs 425 crore.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, co-founder of IT major Infosys S Gopalakrishnan and family were among those present at the event.

“At a time when every nation must give topmost importance to healthcare, efforts like the Bagchi Parthasarathy Multispeciality Hospital assume great importance. In the times to come, it will strengthen healthcare capacities and encourage pioneering research in the sector,” Modi tweeted later.

While on his way to IISc, Modi stopped his car and waved at thousands of party workers at Mekhri Circle. The crowd chanted slogans and were overjoyed as the PM stepped out to wave at them.

BASE University & ITIs opened

Modi inaugurated Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University – a unitary university under the state government. He unveiled a 22-foot tall bronze statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at the BASE campus.

He then released the 13 blocks of BASE, built at a cost of about Rs 250 cr. Later, he interacted with the students of BASE University. “This is a tribute to the intellectual prowess of Dr. Ambedkar. The new campus of this institution will benefit several students. The new tech hubs which have been inaugurated will also be a boon for our Yuva Shakti,” he said.

Later, he remotely inaugurated 150 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state. The institutions were upgraded to technology hubs in association with the Tata group at a cost of 4,736 crores.

Rail and road projects launched

The Prime Minister dedicated several projects from the special venue at Kommaghatta. “The city of Bengaluru has shown the massive impact that can result from the government extending support for entrepreneurship, innovation and the private sector. This gives the youth of the nation a great opportunity to show their potential,” he said.

Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal at Byappanahalli and the recently doubled Yelahanka- Penukonda and Arsikere-Tumkur railway lines were dedicated to the nation remotely by the PM. He then flagged off the DEMU train service between Arsikere and Tumkur virtually.

A fully electrified (740 km) Konkan Railway was also dedicated to the nation. He laid the foundation stone for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project and the redevelopment works at the Yesvantpur and Cantonment Railway Stations.

Foundation stone was also laid virtually for several projects of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. These include a Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Muddalinganahalli. The six-laning of the Nelamangala- Tumkur section of NH-48; widening of the Punjalkatte-Charmadi section of NH- 73; rehabilitation and upgradation of a section of NH-69 were the other projects of the central ministry.

The Prime Minister then left for Mysuru on an IAF helicopter to take part in the International Day of Yoga celebrations.