Karnataka hopes for positive response from IT sector

Infrastructure woes

The Karnataka government has communicated the chief minister's action plan, to improve infrastructure in the city, to IT companies and important trade bodies like the Electronics City Industries' Association (ELCIA).

The chief minister, on Tuesday, announced the decision to upgrade important roads at a cost of Rs 34 crore.

Responding to pleas of the IT sector, the state government has decided to upgrade and decongest five important roads, including the Bannerghatta Road, Sarjapur Road, Airport-Varthur Road, Electronics City-Bannerghatta Road and Sarjapur-Electronics City Road.

However, on a priority basis the first three roads, which are 4 km, 4.2 km and 8.6 km stretch, respectively, are being taken up. They are expected to be ready between February and March 2005. The total cost of upgrading these three stretches are about Rs 30 crore.

Considering the overall cost of Rs 34 crore for all roads, the state government has decided to contribute half the amount, with the remaining expected to come from various IT companies. This would mean a commitment of Rs 17 crore from IT companies.

"We have communicated the state's decision to most IT companies and trade bodies like the ELCIA. We are confident that they will respond positively to the effort being initiated by the state government," M Shankarlinge Gowda, IT and BT secretary, government of Karnataka, said.

At the request of the IT sector, Hosur Road, Ring Road and the Bannerghatta Road will be off limits for heavy vehicles during the peak commuting time of IT employees.

The state has also instructed the Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore City Corporation, Public Works Department and the urban development department to come up with a co-ordinated, comprehensive plan to develop roads in and around Bangalore. Five traffic junctions on the Hosur Road will also be brought under the limits of the Bangalore traffic police.

The chief minister said the rains hampered the execution of all plans so far and that work on most of these important roads would begin by November 15.