Road woes make it to R-Day address

Road woes make it to R-Day address
DH News Service, Bangalore:
In his address after unfurling the national flag at the Manekshaw Parade grounds here, Governor Rameshwar Thakur said the State government was studying various measures to alleviate the traffic problems in Bangalore.


The traffic woes in Bangalore City wound their way into the Republic Day address of Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Saturday.

In his address after unfurling the national flag at the Manekshaw Parade grounds here, Mr Thakur said the State government was studying various measures to alleviate the traffic problems in Bangalore.

He said the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan (CTTP) for Bangalore has identified a host of measures, to ease mobility within the City and several projects were being developed for implementation under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

He said the State has undertaken the improvement of over 1,000 kms of roads in Bangalore Metropolitan Region at an estimated cost of Rs 997 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recommended to the Planning Commission, to provide a one-time assistance of Rs 516 crore to the State government for the project, he said.

Devanahalli airport

The Governor said the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli will set a new benchmark for the future development of Indian airports. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been invited to dedicate the international airport to the nation. He said Karnataka ranked second in the country in respect of Foreign Direct Investment approvals. During 2006-07 approvals have been accorded to the tune of over one lakh crore rupees for 946 projects with an employment potential of over 15 lakh jobs, he said.

Tier II and III cities were also being developed for attracting investments by offering incentives and infrastructural facilities.

During 2006-07, 278 projects which would bring in investments to the tune of Rs 5,607 crore and generate over four lakh jobs have been approved for these cities, he said.

He assured that all rural government schools would be provided with water supply and sanitation facilities by March-end.

Mr Thakur said presently 2,386 rural schools have drinking water facilities, and the remaining 4,741 schools will also be covered within the next two months.