The Hindu : Front Page : 5,000-acre knowledge city to be built in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 26, 2006

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5,000-acre knowledge city to be built in State

It will come up between Bangalore and Mysore

AIMING HIGH: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh at the launch of Bangalore IT.in 2006, in Bangalore on Friday. STPI director B.V. Naidu is at right. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: Seeking to give a major boost to the information and biotechnology sectors, the State Government has decided to build a 5,000-acre knowledge city between Bangalore and Mysore and also a bio-IT park.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said that of the five sector-specific cities proposed to be set up around Bangalore, he would like to dedicate one such township exclusively for the knowledge sector.

"Mysore city is also fast emerging as an IT hub. It would, therefore, be prudent to set up the knowledge city between Bangalore and Mysore covering over 5,000 acres of land.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) would soon come out with details of this," he said.

Bio-IT park

Addressing the launch function of Bangalore IT.in 2006, an annual IT event that is slated to be held for four days from October 28, Mr. Kumaraswamy also said his Government had taken a decision to set up bio-IT park near Bidadi, close to Bangalore.

"This is in addition to the biotech park at Electronics City for which Cabinet gave its approval on June 4. The proposed bio-IT park would be giving a further boost to our commitment to the fast-growing biotech sector in the State."

The Chief Minister said the Government planned to implement ``Bangalore Unwired'' project which seeks to provide seamless-wireless broadband connectivity any time, any place and accessible to all at affordable costs within the city, covering a range of about 40 km radius. "The wireless connectivity would be based on the latest Wi-Max technology, perhaps being attempted for the first time in the world," Mr. Kumaraswamy said. ``After all, Brand Bangalore is the Best."

He said software icon N.R. Narayana Murthy would firm up a roadmap for Karnataka in the knowledge sector.

Roadmap

"...Our elder statesman Narayana Murthy, who just turned 60, has already had a session with our senior officers on Friday to firm up a roadmap for our State in the knowledge sector," the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Narayana Murthy retired from executive positions at Infosys on August 20.

From August 21, he is serving the NASDAQ-listed firm as non-executive chairman and continues to hold the post of its Chief Mentor.

At the 25th anniversary celebrations of Infosys in Mysore last month-end, Mr. Kumaraswamy — apparently referring to Mr. Narayana Murthy's retirement as executive chairman in August, had said, "...This presents us with an opportunity. Surely, a talent like his cannot be allowed to remain untapped."

Mr. Kumaraswamy had also said his intention was to use the services of Mr. Narayana Murthy so that his Government could be suitably advised about addressing issues of the IT sector. — PTI

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