K'taka lays out infrastructure strategy

CHENNAI: Karnataka maybe at the top in IT exports in India with its exports touching Rs 18,100 crore for the fiscal year 2003-04, but simultaneously, the state has been bombarded by rising infrastructure related complaints.

Speaking to the media in Chennai, IT & BT secretary, Government of Karnataka, MK Shankaralinge Gowda said that the Karnataka Government is going to address this serious threat and is streamlining certain initiatives. He was speaking at the roadshow for Bangalore IT.Com 2004, which is scheduled between November 1- 5.

"We agree that currently the state is facing inadequacy in infrastructure and the state government has taken note of this crisis. Recently, the Government of Karnataka called a meet with the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF), where we took into consideration the problems, currently faced by city. One of the concerns highlighted was the traffic congestion the city dwellers are encountering in Bangalore. The government has decided to provide Rs 300 crore to improve the roads in the city by this year. Secondly, the launch of IT corridor is the answer to this issue, whereby we intend to provide adequate infrastructure to this booming industry by developing real estate across the IT corridor. In addition, the government is going to promote the secondary cities like Mysore, Mangalore and Hubli-Dharwad," he said.

The government is also taking a serious strategy whereby every IT park, should compulsorily have housing facilites. With this strategy, the government intends to counter the traveling time currently faced in Bangalore city.