Karnataka offers Rs.1 lakh crore infrastructure projects

In the run-up to its global investors meet (GIM) during February 3-5 here, Rs.1 lakh crore worth of investment projects beckon investors to Karnataka in the infrastructure sector.

"We are committed to develop quality infrastructure across the state to facilitate rapid growth of all sectors and employment generation over the next five years," state Infrastructure Development Minister R. Roshan Baig told reporters here.

Listing out 117 infrastructure projects in nine sectors, including roads, railways, airports, ports, energy and water across the southern state, Baig said the state infrastructure development department would be the nodal agency to facilitate implementation of the projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The various infrastructure projects will be showcased to prospective investors at the state's three-day "Invest Karnataka 2016" event at the Bangalore Palace grounds in the city centre.

"Among the projects, 25 pertain to strengthening infrastructure in Bengaluru and aimed at easing traffic congestion, parking facilities, skywalks for easy movement of pedestrians," Baig asserted.

In public transportation, projects are on Light Rail Transit System, elevated corridors on six arterial roads, multi-level car parking, pedestrian skywalks across 40 busy roads with lift facilities and pay-and-use public toilets.

"These capital intensive infrastructure projects are being offered to investors through a transparent process of bidding by the concerned departments or agencies partnering with the private party in executing them," Baig noted.

Among projects are Devanahalli business park and 6,000-seating capacity international convention centre near the airport with world class facilities; light rail transit system across two corridors from J.P. Nagar to Hebbal on outer ring road (31 km and from Magadi toll gate to peripheral Ring Road (10.6 km).

Other projects outside Bengaluru are two National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZ) greenfield airport at Shivamogga, airstrips in seven districts of Bagalkot. Chickmagalore, Davanagere, Gadag, Raichur, Udupi and Uttara Kannada and development of 18 stretches of state highways and six ports at Tadadi, Karwar, Belekeri and Pavinakurve.

Sectorwise, of the 117 projects, 41 are in transportation, urban and municipal infrastructure, tourism, agri-infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, energy, industrial infrastructure and one each in health and telecom sectors.

"Of the projects, feasibility reports are ready for 17 and are at the bidding stage, feasibility reports for l1 projects and pre-feasibility reports on 22 projects are in the initial stages of study," Baig added.