Bangalore: Ramanagaram in Bangalore Rural district, located on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, will be developed as a satellite town to ease the growing pressure on Bangalore.

Ramanagaram, incidentally, is the constituency represented by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said in his budget speech on Monday that the Government will ensure the comprehensive development of Ramanagaram over the next four years. Similarly, the towns of Shikaripur in Shimoga district (represented by Mr. Yediyurappa) and Jewargi in Gulbarga district (represented by the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh) have been listed for comprehensive development, he said.

He announced the implementation of an ambitious project, "B-TRAC 2010," to ease traffic movement in Bangalore. The project, to be implemented over a five-year period, is estimated to cost Rs. 350 crores, and Rs. 44 crores has been set apart in the budget for the first year.

The Government has also come out with a scheme to benefit an estimated 15 lakh construction workers in the State. The Government will implement the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996.

The rules under these two Acts have been framed and the notification will be issued shortly.

The legislation provides for a one per cent cess on the cost of all building or other construction work above Rs. 10 lakhs, which will go into a welfare fund. A welfare board will be set up to administer the fund for the benefit of construction workers. Pension, disability pension, maternity benefit, medical assistance and loans for housing, purchase of tools, skill development and so on are some of the benefits that will become available to construction workers. Health and safety measures for construction workers will also be taken care of.

Mr. Yediyurappa also announced the formation of a "Karnataka Samskruthi Samrakshana Pradhikara" to renovate and protect heritage temples.

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