State budget announces a slew of schemes and projects for NK region

Hubballi: The state budget presented by chief minister Siddaramaiah announced some new schemes and projects for the development of North Karnataka (Kittur Karnataka) region.There was some cheer for the Dharwad district as the CM announced that 75,000 employment opportunities were expected in the Dharwad Industrial Node of the Bengaluru-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. To develop this node, Rs 600 crore will be provided for the acquisition of 1,000 acres of land. Of this, Rs 200 crore will be provided in the current financial year.To create a start-up ecosystem, the CM also stressed that to provide incubation facilities to entrepreneurs in the 2nd and 3rd tier cities of the state, such as Hubballi and Kalaburagi, plug-and-play LEAP labs will be set up by KEONICS. A centre of excellence for AI has been proposed at IIIT Raichur at a cost of Rs 5 crore.The CM announced that, in collaboration with IIT Dharwad, a personalised self-learning digital tutor facility using AI technology will be provided to approximately 12.2 lakh students from classes 8 to 12 at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. He also assured that the Jayadeva Cardiovascular Regional Centre at Hubballi, costing Rs 236 crore, will be inaugurated during this year.He also stressed that under the new Industrial Policy 2025-30, an additional incentive of 5% for the most backward regions and 3% for the backward regions is being provided to promote industrial development beyond Bengaluru. Dharwad and other districts of the region are likely to be benefited. A 1,000-acre industrial park will be newly developed in Belagavi district of North Karnataka.To help students opting for coaching in Dharwad, digital library and study centres will be set up in Dharwad for students preparing for competitive examinations, at a cost of Rs 10 crore. For students coming for higher studies and preparation for competitive exams, 4 ‘Vidyarthi Indira Canteens' will be started in Dharwad.Ahead of the bypoll in Davanagere, the CM announced Rs 100 crore for the development of basic infrastructure in various areas of Davanagere South assembly constituency, where mainly scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and minority communities reside.On court facilities, e-Courts will be established on a pilot basis in Dharwad and Kalaburagi at a cost of Rs 10 crore to implement an efficient and citizen-centric judicial system. Rs 5 crore is set aside to provide library and video conferencing facilities, and the upgradation of necessary infrastructure for CCMS and e-filing in Dharwad and Kalaburagi offices.For working women, it is proposed to start 10 working women's hostels for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes employed women, with a capacity of 50 each, in Hubballi-Dharwad. Also, 50 post-matric hostels of 150 strength will be started for the educational benefit of backward classes students in high-demand districts of Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, and Ballari.The CM also announced the establishment of Haj Bhavans in Hubballi and Kalaburagi to provide necessary facilities and amenities to Haj pilgrims and their relatives. To address the stray dog menace in a scientific and effective manner, ‘dog birth-control training centres' are proposed to be set up in Bidar.It is also proposed to construct commercial complexes at Cotton Market centres in Hubballi under public-private partnership. For industrial development, 2 new industrial estates will be established in Muddebihala, Vijayapura district, and Kampli, Ballari District.Some more important announcements for the regionGadag-Kappatagudda-Lakkundi tourism circuit will be developedSilk Parks in Haveri. De-addiction and rehabilitation centres in DIMHANS, DharwadCT scan centres for livestock at veterinary hospitals at Bidar Veterinary CollegesFlight training school in Vijayapura airport Govt First Grade Colleges in Chadachana in Vijayapura25 acres to start a private Vachana University at BasavakalyanaA new medical college is proposed in VijayapuraAn IVF centre in Kalaburagi medical collegeA new women's PU College will be started in SavanurNew planetariums in Vijayanagar and ChitradurgaA modern sport science centre will be set up in Kalaburagi