Manmohan boosts Brand Bangalore

Manmohan boosts Brand Bangalore
‘Don’t Divide Urban, Rural Areas, Growth Is For All’
The Times of India

Bangalore: It seemed like a reincarnation for Bangalore. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday billed it as a global brand and said people across the world know more of Bangalore than India.

Heaping praise on public-private partnership, the PM hit out at those trying to bring in a divide between urban and rural areas — an indirect reference to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and the JD(S). “Along with Bangalore’s development, we must also work for Karnataka’s development. I do not see any contradiction between the two. Some try to divide our people by pitting one against the other in the development debate. This is wrong.”

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a 10-lane mixed corridor to Electronics City and, later, at a similar ceremony for the Bangalore Metro Rail project.

He said India cannot develop if only a few benefit from that process. “We want both our urban and rural areas to develop. We want to build an India in which scientists and engineers, farmers and workers, can all find the space to express their creativity and enterprise. It is only through such inclusive growth process that we can build a prosperous, equitable and humane nation.”

Bangalore should retain its global image as a city of enormous creativity and individual enterprise. At the same time, Bangalore should retain its historical reputation as a city of gentle and humane people. A city of concerned citizens.

“I sincerely hope Bangalore will also continue to flower and bloom as India’s Garden City, as the pride of all Kannadigas and of all Indians, and as a wonder for the rest of world.

“You have become the symbol of a new India, an India on the move, rising to fulfill its destiny on the world map.” The success of IT revolution in Karnataka has placed the state on the world map. “This is not an isolated success of a few people who work behind walls and inside air-conditioned rooms. This success has been made possible by the toil and commitment of millions of people. Above all, it has been made possible by your warm hospitality,” he said. What Bangalore has done over the past decade, the rest of Karnataka should do over the next decade, he said. “Become home to enterprise, to talent, to creativity and the spirit of adventure.”

He said the government plans to tap funds from the private sector for infrastructure development, as well as harness its efficiency for quality and timely delivery of projects. Elevated toll expressway Route: Starts near Silk Board junction, ends

at Electronics City Length: 9 km Completion: July 2008 Lanes on elevated portion: 4 Cost: Rs 765 cr Toll Rs 25/car (one-way) Rs 10/two-wheeler Metro Rail

Project’s phase-I will be 33 km 6.76-km of it will be underground To be built on standard gauge Project to be completed by Sept. 2011. First leg between Byapanahalli and Chinnaswamy Stadium will start by Dec. 2009 Total cost : Rs 6,395 cr