PM to watch audio-visual show on State projects

PM to watch audio-visual show on State projects

Dr Singh’s engagements in State include a visit to Suttur Mutt and inauguration of the Infosys training centre in Mysore.

Deccan Herald

After a gap of 25 years, a prime minister will actually sit through a “performance appraisal” review in Karnataka’s seat of power Vidhana Soudha on Friday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is paying his official two-day maiden visit to the state, accompanied by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and three Union ministers from Karnataka.

The prime minister is slated to sit through an hour-long audio-visual presentation on infrastructure requirements in the state. Sources said the prime minister would be apprised of a litany of grievances concerning state issues such as special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region under Article 378 and according the status of classical language to Kannada.

The last prime minister who took time off for a detailed review in Karnataka was Indira Gandhi, during her visit to the state when Gundu Rao was the chief minister nearly 25 years ago!

Arrives at 3.30 pm
The prime minister, who arrives at 3.30 pm on Friday, will be proceeding to Vidhana Soudha for a meeting with officials, all state ministers and Union ministers Oscar Fernandes, K H Muniyappa and M V Rajashekaran. The Infrastructure Department and Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd (BMRTL) will give a presentation on the international airport project at Devanahalli and the metro rail for the city, both of which are going to be partially funded by the Centre.

Also, Rural Development Secretary V P Baligar will give a presentation on the rural and social infrastructure requirements in the state. Dr Singh will not be performing any ground-breaking ceremony at Devanahalli, though he was originally scheduled to do so. Information Department officials said he would not visit the site, 30 km from the city. Two or three agreements on the airport project are yet to to be concluded.

PM to meet Gowda, CM
He is scheduled to hold separate meetings with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister N Dharam Singh at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening. Governor T N Chaturvedi will call on the prime minister later in the evening. Dr Singh will stay overnight at Raj Bhavan.

Dr Singh is scheduled to visit the JSS Mutt in Suttur to inaugurate its Dasoha Bhavan on Saturday morning. He will inaugurate the world’s largest corporate training centre set up by IT giant Infosys in Mysore at 12 noon. He will return to Bangalore around 3 pm, interact with the media, and leave by 5 pm.

The State government has declared a half-day holiday on Friday for all Secretariat staff working in Vidhana Soudha in view of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit. Vidhana Soudha will be closed for the public too all of Friday afternoon, as security has been beefed up for Dr Singh’s visit.

PRIME AGENDA

* Review of international airport project
* Review of Bangalore Metro rail project
* Demand for classical language status for Kannada
* Demand for special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region under Article 378