Britain eyes Bangalore-Mumbai economic corridor project

Britain is ready to partner with Karnataka to jointly design and develop the Bangalore-Mumbai economic corridor, proposed by the central government to revolutionise industrial development across the neighbouring states.

"We are ready to partner with India and the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra to design, develop and deliver the Bangalore-Mumbai economic corridor, as we already working on a feasibility study," British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan said Friday.

The proposed corridor will also connect Bangalore with other cities and towns across the southern state along the National Highway 4 and transform Tumkur, about 70 km from here, into a major industrial hub.

Bevan made the offer to participate in the multi-billion dollar project at a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah here earlier in the day.

Recalling British Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Bangalore in July 2010, he said nowhere was there greater potential for such partnerships than in this tech hub.

"It is one of the reasons Cameron chose to make Bangalore his first port of call during his maiden visit to India after becoming prime minister in 2010," Bevan told the chief minister.

Hailing the British offer, the chief minister said Karnataka would welcome avenues for cooperation with Britain.

During his day-long visit, Bevan also unveiled the Bangalore chapter of the British Business Group, a platform for business members of both the countries to network and leverage contacts and opportunities.

"The platform provides business contacts in India and Britain. It enables a company or an individual to understand the business landscape between the countries, develop business contacts and gain business opportunities," British Deputy High Commissioner Ian Felton told a gathering of industry leaders here.

As a national network, the group has chapters in Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.