The Karnataka government has decided to aggressively push for more investments in the Mysore and Mangalore regions by working to build quality infrastructure (road, air and rail connectivity), Vinay Kumar, Karnataka principal secretary -- infrastructure said. He was addressing the Bangalore Management Association's (BMA) annual convention here on Friday. | |
| The Karnataka government is to sign on September 23 an MoU with Airport Authority of India (AAI) for Mysore airport and upgradation of Mangalore airport. As all plans are ready for the Mysore airport, once the MoU is signed, the state government will release Rs 40 crore for land acquisition, said Kumar. |
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| At Mangalore, upgradation of the existing airport and work on the second runway will be taken up at a cost of Rs 94 crore. "When the second runway is ready it will facilitate international flights," he said. |
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| For rail connectivity from Bangalore to both the cities (Mysore and Mangalore), chief minister Dharam Singh led an all-party delegation to Delhi recently and met railway ministry officials. As a follow-up, a railway board member has toured the areas. |
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| "The member has given a positive feedback and it is expected that the project of doubling the railway line on the Bangalore-Mysore route will get additional resources in the forthcoming Budget," he noted. |
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| With huge freight movement expected on the Mangalore-Hassan railway line, the Hassan-Mangalore gauge conversion work has been speeded up and is likely to be operational by October-end, he added. According to Kumar, at Hubli, work on the night landing facilities is on and when completed by October, Air Deccan has agreed to operate connecting flights to Delhi from Hubli and Belgaum. |
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| The Karnataka government also plans to utilise the private airport of Jindal Vijaynagar at Bellary. |
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| "With most of the work complete, DGCA's approval is awaited to operate commercial air traffic. This can boost tourism in the region, especially for the world-renowned Hampi," said Kumar. |
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