MANGALORE: The coalition government is committed to developing Mangalore as the commercial capital of the State, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said. He was speaking after presenting the KCCI Business Awards 2006 at a function here on Saturday.

The Government was committed to the development of the entire State and not just Bangalore. Infrastructure needed to attract industrial investment would be created in cities such as Mysore, Mangalore, Shimoga, Hubli, Dharwad and Bidar, he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the Planning Commission had praised the State Government's financial management over the past few months.

After coming to power, the Government had cleared industrial projects estimated at Rs. 90,000 crore.

No overdrafts had been taken and, apart from the plans announced in the budget, Rs. 1,000 crore had been sanctioned for special programmes.

Revolutionary changes could be expected in the industrial sector with the introduction of the new industrial policy. The State aimed to increase exports by 20 per cent and production by nine per cent by the end of the year, he said.

The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Chief Minister at the function. The demands included repairing of national highways, avoiding frequent power tariff increases, ensuring the commencement of flights from the international airport here by October 3, introduction of passenger trains between Mangalore and Bangalore at the earliest, setting up of the Special Economic Zone and providing assistance to conduct a feasibility study for the introduction of the Sky Bus project in Mangalore.

In response to the demands, Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government would release the funds required to repair the national highways, and work would begin immediately. He assured the members of the KCCI that the Government would consider all the demands and respond at the earliest.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail