Karnataka to draw up blueprint for five cities to decongest Bengaluru
Karnataka will prepare a new development plan for five cities, including Mysuru, to reduce Bengaluru's population and infrastructure pressure.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Saturday that the Karnataka government will formulate a fresh development plan for five major cities, including Mysuru, to ease the growing population density, traffic congestion, and infrastructure strain in Bengaluru.
Speaking to reporters after arriving by helicopter at the Oval Grounds in Mysuru to inaugurate the 111th birth anniversary celebrations of Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswami at the Suttur Mutt's Mysuru branch, Mr. Shivakumar said special programmes would be designed to boost employment, education, healthcare, and infrastructure in Mysuru, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kalaburagi, and one other major city.
The Chief Minister noted that steps had already been taken to construct ring roads in small and major cities across the State to ease traffic congestion. He praised Mysuru as a better-planned city than Bengaluru, saying new development models had been introduced there.
Mr. Shivakumar said a special meeting would soon be convened in consultation with local MLAs and elected representatives to discuss Mysuru's comprehensive development and finalise an action plan.
On the Hanur shoot-out case, the Chief Minister said the CID had been asked to investigate the circumstances leading to the incident. He said the magisterial inquiry report had been submitted and the matter had been handed over to the CID for a detailed probe, adding that action would be taken if any lapse was found.
Responding to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's accusations, Mr. Shivakumar accused the BJP of being unable to accept his becoming Chief Minister and said the Opposition was creating unnecessary controversy for political reasons. He said Mr. Kumaraswamy was free to speak as he wished, adding, "There is no medicine for jealousy."
Chamaraja MLA K. Harish Gowda, Regional Commissioner Nitesh Patil, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikant Reddy, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, and other officials were present.