Govt plans revival of slew of infra projects: Baig

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, April 24 (PTI) The Karnataka government is planning to revive a slew of infrastructure projects, including high-speed rail network and an international convention centre near Kempegowda International Airport near Devanahalli.

The government also plans to revive the construction of film city at Hesaraghatta and introduce uniform ticket rates at multiplexes on the lines of the system in Tamil Nadu, Infrastructure Minister Roshan Baig told reporters here.

He said government is exploring high speed rail connectivity across Karnataka for decongesting important cities and towns. "The high speed rail project is being explored to connect Bangalore-Mysore, Bangalore-Kolar, Bangalore-Hubli and other important towns to solve the problem of decongestion."

Baig also said an international convention centre on 35 acres will soon come up near Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli for holding international conferences, seminars and meetings by corporate houses.

Of the 419 acres of government land near the airport, 35 acres will be allotted for the project, Baig said. The centre will also house budget and five-star hotels, he added.

The proposal was made by Department of Tourism in 2007 and the estimated cost of constructing the convention centre at present is Rs 500 crore and may go up Rs 600 crore.

The Minister also said the government plans to revive the construction of film city at Hesaraghatta. "I am visiting Hesarghatta tomorrow and take an initiative to reclaim government land for the purpose," he said.

The Devaraj Urs government allocated 360 acres of land in the 60s for developing a film city. No attempts were made by the crisis-ridden Kannada film industry for all these years. He said government plans to encourage international players to set up hightech studios at Hesaraghatta.

He said government planned to introduce uniform ticket rates at multiplexes on the lines of the system in Tamil Nadu. He flayed multiplexes for charging exorbitant rates and said, "If Tamil Nadu has a policy for the theaters, why can't we? We will stop this looting by the multiplexes."

In Tamil Nadu, ticket prices are controlled by the government, with a cap on the maximum rate at Rs 120. Tickets for two front rows are sold at Rs 10. "At least multiplexes can reduce eatable prices, which are exorbitant."

The government is also planning to set up Janata theaters under PPP model to encourage screening of Kannada films, Baig said.