Challenge to bridge gap between growth and infra: CM

Bengaluru, Aug 20 (PTI) Karnataka Chief MinisterSiddaramaih today said it was a challenge to bridge the gapbetween growth of industry and the quality infrastructurein the city. "Bengaluru is facing infrastructure problem and it isreally a challenge to bridge the gap between industry growthand the quality infrastructure in the city," he said. Speaking at the first meeting of ‘Vision Group'(Industries) held here, he said government is not keepingquiet and doing best to add sheen to the charisma of "BrandBengaluru" by achieving effective convergence of the grantsgiven to the city through different institutions. Pointing out that since 2013-14, his government hadprovided Rs 5,606 crore for the BBMP (civic body) for creatingand upgrading infrastructure, he said to give further fillipto the city in the current budget, Rs 5000 Crore has beenmade available under the Chief Minister’s special package forcreating various infrastructure facilities. The ‘Vision Group’ meeting was attended by IndustriesMinister R V Deshpande, IT Minister Priyank Kharge, BioconChief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, industry leaders, senior governmentofficials among others. Stating that infrastructure is the backbone for industrialdevelopment and top priority was being given for creation ofcomprehensive infrastructure facilities across the state, hesaid "Government is pushing investments to tier-II and IIIcities in order to develop these potential cities." All the required infrastructure facilities would becreated to attract investors to such locations, he said. Speaking about the initiatives taken by his government forskill development, he said it was proposed to create aseparate ministry for skill development in the state. Noting that his aim is not only to maintain the presentleading position of Karnataka but to improve the status in thecoming years, Siddaramaih said his final agenda was to makethe state as number one with respect to industry and businessin the country. He suggested five separate sub-groups on infrastructuredevelopment at the state level- Infrastructure development-Bengaluru, Manufacturing, including automobile and aerospace,Textile and Garments, Electronics and E-Commerce -could beconstituted to speed up the process. These sub-groups comprises members within the Vision Groupand work out action plan for short-term measures required forfurther growth of these sectors, which could be taken upwithin a period of five to six months, he added. PTI KSUVSAQSMVV