Mysuru to be second IT city of Karnataka: CM

Mysuru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah's home district of Mysuru got plenty in the record 17th budget announced by him on Friday. Siddaramaiah announced a series of major projects and infrastructure initiatives ranging from healthcare and IT development to tourism, irrigation and social welfare. However, he did not extend a special package for heritage conservation and the proposed Greater Mysuru City Corporation.He also announced plans to develop Mysuru as the second IT city of the state, to ease congestion in Bengaluru. Currently, more than 30,000 employees work in about 100 IT companies in Mysuru, the CM said in his budget speech.
This came two decades after the IT major Infosys built its Mysuru campus in the Hebbal industrial area, which became the unofficial electronic city in Mysuru, housing many IT firms.Meanwhile, in a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure, the existing 400-bed Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in the city will be upgraded to a 600-bed facility at an estimated cost of Rs 180 crore. The CM announced an Aerospace Park adjacent to the Mysuru Airport at Mandakalli on the Mysuru-Nanjangud national highway by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) to promote aerospace manufacturing.Tourism and recreation projects also received attention. A Nature Interpretation Centre will be established at the Mysuru Zoo under the PPP model, for the convenience of visitors. The Lingambudhi Lake Park will be comprehensively developed to attract tourists and nature lovers. Restoration works will also be taken up in the upstream portion of the Kabini dam. The CM also proposed developing Varuna lake on the city's outskirts.In the industrial sector, the CM announced a Silk Park at Tandavapura, while the Film City at Immavu on HD Kote Road received revised administrative approval, with theme parks, star hotels and restaurants included in the plan.The budget also proposed construction of a modern cycling velodrome in Dattagalli, a govt First Grade College in Narasimharaja constituency, and Rs 10 crore for infrastructure development of the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, which hosts the annual Dasara Exhibition. The exhibition attracts lakhs of visitors to Mysuru during the Dasara season, and well into the new year season.Social welfare initiatives include working women's hostels for SC/ST women and a 150-seat post-matric hostel for Backward Classes students.A Schneider Electric Youth Impact Centre costing Rs 16 crore will also be established to train and provide employment opportunities for 2,000 youths annually. Underground drainage works will be undertaken in parts of Mysuru to improve sanitation. In rural development, Shramika Residential Schools will be started in Periyapatna, HD Kote, KR Nagar and Nanjangud. Several irrigation projects, including improvement of the Rajarajeshwari Canal and Harohalli High Level Canal in T Narasipura, modernisation of canals in Mysuru taluk, and construction of check dams in Varuna constituency, were also announced.The budget further proposed development of Karigala tank, the Hemmige-Muduganuru feeder canal, modernisation of canals near Harohalli, and implementation of the Nanjapura Lift Irrigation Scheme in T Narasipura taluk, aimed at strengthening irrigation infrastructure in the region. A residential school for the children of labourers has been proposed at Varuna, the CM's constituency.