Challenge to bridge gap between growth and infra: CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih today said it was a challenge to bridge the gap between growth of industry and the quality infrastructure in the city.
"Bengaluru is facing infrastructure problem and it is really a challenge to bridge the gap between industry growth and the quality infrastructure in the city," he said.
Speaking at the first meeting of 'Vision Group' (Industries) held here, he said government is not keeping quiet and doing best to add sheen to the charisma of "Brand Bengaluru" by achieving effective convergence of the grants given to the city through different institutions.
Pointing out that since 2013-14, his government had provided Rs 5,606 crore for the BBMP (civic body) for creating and upgrading infrastructure, he said to give further fillip to the city in the current budget, Rs 5000 Crore has been made available under the Chief Minister's special package for creating various infrastructure facilities.

The 'Vision Group' meeting was attended by Industries Minister R V Deshpande, IT Minister Priyank Kharge, Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, industry leaders, senior government officials among others.
Stating that infrastructure is the backbone for industrial development and top priority was being given for creation of comprehensive infrastructure facilities across the state, he said "Government is pushing investments to tier-II and III cities in order to develop these potential cities."

All the required infrastructure facilities would be created to attract investors to such locations, he said.
Speaking about the initiatives taken by his government for skill development, he said it was proposed to create a separate ministry for skill development in the state.

Noting that his aim is not only to maintain the present leading position of Karnataka but to improve the status in the coming years, Siddaramaih said his final agenda was to make the state as number one with respect to industry and business in the country.
He suggested five separate sub-groups on infrastructure development at the state level- Infrastructure development- Bengaluru, Manufacturing, including automobile and aerospace, Textile and Garments, Electronics and E-Commerce -could be constituted to speed up the process.
These sub-groups comprises members within the Vision Group and work out action plan for short-term measures required for further growth of these sectors, which could be taken up within a period of five to six months, he added.