Race Course must shift by 2010

Race Course must shift by 2010
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: After dithering for many years, the state government has finally set a deadline of December 2009 for shifting the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC), better known as the Race Course, to the city’s outskirts.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, replying to the budget discussions in the legislative assembly on Wednesday, said the agreement signed by BTC with the government expires on Dec 31, 2009. “The government will not renew it. By that time, the Race Course has to shift,’’ he added.
However, the government is yet to identify land for relocating the BTC, though various options have been announced in the past. Yeddyurappa said the shift had become imperative as the Race Course was causing traffic congestion. He was also critical of the public works department for allowing races to be held without signing any contract with the BTC for the past 19 years.
“The PWD should have taken note of this. Only after I took a firm stand in the House recently, an agreement was signed on July 26 which will end on December 31, 2009. Come what may, the BTC will be shifted this time.’’