PM launches city's major infrastructure efforts

PM launches city's major infrastructure efforts
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The frequent criticisms that Bangalore is turning a high-cost city found an elaborate mention in Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's speech on Saturday when he said that the city needs to cut its ``costs of living, working and doing business'' if it were to remain an investment destination.

Singh's words came as a timely warning to the State Government in the light of the recent findings that Bangalore is no longer competitive in view of rising costs of land, electricity, wages and living.

In his address at the foundation laying function of the Rs 6000-crore Bangalore Metro Rail project, the Prime Minister said: "Every other city in India has Bangalore in its sights and in the absence of determined, positive steps, there is no guarantee that the future will be a continuation of the past success of this city."

"I want everyone to keep this in mind. In the extremely competitive and dynamic world we live in, nations, states and cities slide up and down rankings on many parameters. The most advanced states during British rule are no longer perceived as being so. The most advanced agricultural states need to become industrial states if they have to keep ahead. And Bangalore will need to keep reinventing itself for the future if it has to maintain its lead," Singh said.

Along with Bangalore's development, the Prime Minister said: "We must also work for Karnataka's development. I do not see any contradiction between the two. Some try to divide by pitting one against another in the development debate. This is wrong. India cannot develop if only a few benefit from that process. We want both our urban areas and rural areas to develop."