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.

Ktk govt to ask GMR to withdraw objections on Bidar airport

B D Narayankar reports

 Bangalore, Apr 24 (PTI) Karnataka Infrastructure Minister
Roshan Baig today said he would be holding talks with the GMR
Group during his visit to Delhi on April 29 to ask them to
withdraw their objection to operation of facilities available
at Bidar airport.
        "I will try to convince them to lift their objections
against operation of facilities available at Bidar airport,"
he told reporters here.
        The GMR Group had objected to the operation of facilities
at Bidar airport in northern tip of Karnataka citing distance
factor from Hyderabad Airport, Baig said.
        He also said the state government was ready to hand over
maintenance and operation of Bidar Civilian Airport facilities
to the GMR Group, which operates Rajiv Gandhi International
Airport in Hyderabad. "We are ready to hand over maintenance
and operation of Bidar Airport facilities to them," he said.
        He also said he would meet officials of the Civil Aviation
Department, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and
Defence Ministry in this regard and also on the issue of
improving air connectivity across the state.
        The terminal building at Bidar airport is ready and the
government had obtained the clearance from the Civil Aviation
Department and the Defence Ministry had cleared the proposal
to use the runway and other facilities at the Indian Air Force
station on the outskirts of Bidar, Baig said.
        Similarly, government has initiated the process to acquire
84 acres of additional land to expand Mysore airport to tap
the city's tourism potential and attract investment, Baig
said.
        The government has asked the National Highways Authority
of India (NHAI) to start upgradation works of a stretch of NH
212 next to the workable airport sparing chunk of land needed
for the airport expansion, Baig said.
        The Airport Authority of India, which has reserved funds
for expansion of the airport, had reportedly made it clear to
the government that it will not take up works to expand the
airport until Mysore-Nanjangud stretch is realigned.
        He also said the dream of air connectivity for citizens
of Gulbarga will be fulfilled soon as the bickering amongst
the partners of the joint venture company Regional Airport
Holdings International (Rahi) and IL&FS, had been solved. "Now
IL&FS has agreed to complete the project."
        One of the partners had initiated legal action against the
other for refusing to participate in board meetings since
February 2012, thereby blocking all attempts to raise the much
needed capital to complete the project, Baig said.
        Rahi was granted the lead role to develop, finance and
build the Gulbarga airport through a government order on
February 18, 2010.