Plans aplenty to develop N. Karnataka

HUBLI: 2003 promises to be a good year for the people of north Karnataka in terms of development of infrastructure and transport services.
Experts, who attended a seminar on "Destination North Karnataka" organised by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) recently, dwelt on the initiatives taken by the government to improve the region, and they believe that these would put north Karnataka districts on the path of growth.
Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner (Agriculture) B.S. Patil sounded optimistic when he highlighted state government’s plans to upgrade and develop roads. He said 1,400 km of roads will be improved or laid in the region at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore over the next three years.
He said the Golden Quadrilateral Project, initiated by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, too would help the region. The state government was also contemplating spending another Rs 700 crore for developing roads.
Patil said Bijapur, Bagalkot, Davanagere and Belgaum districts were being promoted as agri-export zones, providing a special thrust to four horticulture products — grape, pomegranate, mango and lemon. The state was also planning to introduce agro-based industries and cold storage facilities in these districts.
To improve connectivity between south and north Karnataka, flights would be introduced from Hubli and Belgaum to Bangalore by June next year, said G.L. Jere, GM, Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation.
The Karnataka-based Deccan Aviation had evinced interest in operating a 35-seater aircraft to Mumbai and the service would begin soon after the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation gave the approval.
The state government had taken steps to reduce sales tax on aviation turbine fuel from 25 per cent to 4. It would urge gazetted officers to travel to north Karnataka, which would help augment the load factor.
The government had plans to develop small airports in Bijapur and Karwar to improve air connectivity and a proposal had been sent to the Airports Authority of India, he said.
P. Rajagopalan, Divisional Railway Manager, South Central Railway, Hubli Division, said Railway Minister Nitish Kumar would inaugurate the new South-West Railway Zone on January 8, of which Hubli will be the headquarters.
He said the Railways had invited tenders for broad-gauge conversion and bridge conversion works in Gadag section. The work on Hubli-Ankola line was gaining momentum with the sanction of Rs 20 crore by the Centre, he added.
Patil Puttappa, president of the North Karnataka Development Forum, however, maintained that the region would not develop till the state government implemented the recommendations of the Dr D.M. Nanjundappa Committee that seeks to reduce regional imbalances.