CM spells out (pipe) dreams

Dharam stumps all, unleashes dreams
Metro Rail In 3 Years; Uninterrupted Power For All
Times of India

Bangalore: Imagine: Riding the Bangalore Metro in 2007; riding on a four-lane highway to Bangalore’s alter-ego Mangalore; enjoying uninterrupted power supply; seeing work on Bangalore international airport take wing by November this year.

This is how Dharam Singh took up the gauntlet thrown down by Andhra Pradesh supremo Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. At the inaugural day of the CII Infrastructure Summit here on Thursday, Singh outlined a series of measures the state took up to infuse new life in the industrial activity here.

Singh’s announcements surprised many. He said Rs 4,800-crore Metro Rail project will get clearance within 15 days and the first phase would be completed in 36 months. The land lease pact and the government equity agreement, the two last hurdles in the way of international airport, would be signed within 60 days. As for the four-laning project, the Union surface transport minister had agreed to include this in his current year schedule.

More good news: A whopping Rs 10,000 crore MoU was signed between the state and the National Power Grid Corporation to streamline power distribution. Even as the industry delegates assimilated the slew of measures, Karnataka industries minister P.G.R. Sindhia said the straight-talking finance minister Siddaramaiah — currently travelling overseas — had agreed for some concessions in the tax regime announced in the recent budget.

Singh went all out to promote Karnataka. “You may be watching Uma drama. Despite the tense situation, I am proud to say there has been not even a single law and order problem in the state,” said Singh. His candour seemed calibrated to meet the fire of Reddy.

Perhaps, the traffic gods were also happy the way things took shape. The distance between Leela Palace and M.G. Road was covered by this correspondent in a record 20 minutes. Which is something unimaginable between 6 pm and 8 pm.