The Hindu : Front Page : Bottlenecks, yet Bangalore is preferred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
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Bottlenecks, yet Bangalore is preferred

Staff Reporter

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BANGALORE: Problems galore in Bangalore. Infrastructure bottlenecks and the nightmarish traffic jams. Yet, "Brand Bangalore" is the hot favourite of potential investors, especially foreign investors. The running battle between captains of industry, especially IT industry, and the Government over upgrading infrastructure and the non-availability of land for expansion works notwithstanding, the Silicon Valley of Asia is still the preferred destination.

Bangalore has seen the arrival of high profile delegations, one led by Portugal President Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva and the other by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, United Kingdom, Gordon Brown, in the last two days.

This has been cited as a testimony to the undiminished interest Bangalore evokes among foreigners.

Never mind the garden city is becoming hotter and the land prices are skyrocketing.

Bangalore seems to be the talking point. Evidence? Listen to what Mr. Silva said: "Nowadays, people in Portugal talk about the changes that have taken place in Bangalore." With the ongoing Partnership Summit 2007 in Bangalore attracting a large number of foreign delegates, new investments in Karnataka, especially Bangalore, are being expected.

Of the 1,800 delegates participating in the summit, over 750 are from 26 countries.

Acknowledging that infrastructure in Bangalore is a major constraint, Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry, Karnataka, Kris Gopalakrishnan told The Hindu that rapid growth leading to infrastructure bottlenecks had been witnessed not only in Bangalore but in other places too.

He said: "The investors look at the eco-system of the hi-tech industry in Bangalore. It represents the complete value chain, and skilled manpower is available."

On the perceived terror threat, he said, "We have to learn to live with it.Being vigilant and increasing security in the short run and reducing inequalities in the long run could help the companies to deal with the problem better." Since 2002, Karnataka has seen a rise in the investments approved — it jumped from Rs. 3,046 crore in 2002-2003 to Rs. 70,996 crore during 2006-2007.

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