CM chants infrastructure mantra

CM chants infrastructure mantra
Deccan Herald

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said the thrust of infrastructure projects should be towards ensuring convenience and comfort of citizens and not on enriching a few developers and investors.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said the thrust of infrastructure projects should be towards ensuring convenience and comfort of citizens and not on enriching a few developers and investors.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the metro rail project, the CM said the objective of infrastructure projects should genuinely be the promotion of commerce, industry and economic activity.

While emphasising his government’s commitment to infrastructure development in Bangalore and the State, Kumaraswamy said the growth of Karnataka’s economy and the prosperity of its enterprises should spread to all parts of the State.

“Development of tier II cities and towns of the State is, therefore, high on our priority. We would like this development to take place transparently and in an open manner,” he added.

Assuring that the government’s efforts to improve Bangalore’s infrastructure would continue vigorously, the CM said the infrastructure problems have not emerged overnight but have built up over the years. The city planners did not anticipate the sudden and unprecedented growth of the city, he pointed out.

Assurance

The CM said undertaking such a large project as the Metro, would invariably mean acquisition of a number of immovable properties.

“For those who have to undergo the hardship of relocation, I wish to reassure you that the government will leave no stone unturned to make this as painless an experience as possible. I appeal to you all to cooperate with us in the larger public interest. It will be our endeavour to try and compensate such land owners as generously as possible, as also those whose livelihood are adversely affected,” Kumaraswamy added.

SON TO FATHER, WITH LOVE

His father was not present at foundation laying ceremonies of the Bangalore Metro and the express corridor project. However, the son did not miss the opportunity to give credit to his father for all the ongoing infrastructure projects in the City.

At the BMRC function, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that it was when his father, H D Deve Gowdaji was the chief minister of Karnataka, that Bangalore took the first major steps towards meeting its infrastructure requirements.

The Ring Road, the Intermediate Ring Road, the Bangalore-Mysore Highway, the Bangalore International Airport and infrastructure for knowledge-based industries were all completed or initiated during that period.“Our commitment to infrastructure development of Bangalore and the State will continue”, he added.

The CM also thanked the PM and Union Minister Jaipal Reddy for approving the Metro project. He also thanked Finance Minister P Chidambaram for agreeing to give an extra funding of 5 per cent from the Centre. “I urge the Union government to provide all support for the Bangalore Metro, as it did for the Delhi Metro”, he said. Meanwhile, BMRC sources said Gowda could not attend the programme due to ill health.