SHIMOGA : Co-chairman of the District Coordination Committee of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry M. Bharadwaj has urged the Government to initiate development projects in Shimoga district, which have been delayed for the past several years.

In a letter to Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is from Shimoga district, he has said that the district is being denied opportunities for development and is in need of immediate attention to ensure its all-round development.

He has suggested that information technology and biotechnology should be promoted in the district. An incubation centre has already been set up at the Jawaharlal Nehru National College of Engineering to promote information technology.

The Government has reserved a five-acre land near the college for the setting up of an earth station and the Government should come forward to use the land, he says.

Mr. Bharadwaj has urged the authorities that a Special Economic Zone be created in Shimoga district to encourage leading industrial units to be set up here.

Referring to the proposed move to establish an auto park at Bidadi near Bangalore, he has suggested that it be located at the Machenahalli Industrial Area between Shimoga and Bhadravati where a 250-acre land has been reserved for the development of an auto park.

He says the investors' meet can be held in Shimoga if basic amenities such as water, power and roads are improved in the industrial areas of the district. He has requested the Government to build an aerodrome and five star hotels in Shimoga for the convenience of prospective investors.

Mr. Bharadwaj has criticised the neglect of the gauge conversion between Shimoga and Talaguppa and has requested Mr. Yediyurappa to exert pressure on the Centre to release funds for this project. He has suggested that the rail line from Talaguppa be extended up to Honnawar so that it can be linked with the Konkan rail line.

A separate inter-city train can be introduced between Shimoga and Bangalore.

The other demands in his letter include improvement of the road between Shimoga and Honnali, development of the Tumkur-Honnawar National Highway 206, construction of a railway over bridge near the Railway Station on the Honnali Road and the Holehonnur Road, promotion of tourism in the district, establishment of a "food park" and revival of a private sugar factory in Shimoga.

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