Date:18/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081857030300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Mysore to be promoted as an investment destination

Special Correspondent

Government plans concessions for investors relocating from Bangalore

Commercial operations at Mysore Airport will commence in six months: Shobha

Mysore will be a ‘transformer failure-free city’ in three months: CESC official

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Looking ahead: Subir Hari Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, speaking at the ‘Destination Mysore’ meet on Sunday.

MYSORE: An interactive meet, “Destination Mysore” to discuss infrastructure needs was held here on Sunday.

The event, which was jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mysore chapter; Builders Association of India, Mysore, and Deccan Herald, was attended by officials, industrialists, NGOs, entrepreneurs and academicians.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Shobha Karandlaje, who is also the Minister in-charge of Mysore district, said in her address that the Government was committed towards promoting and developing Mysore as an investment destination while maintaining its status as the heritage capital of the State.

The Minister said the Government was planning to provide concessions to investors keen to relocate from Bangalore to Mysore or other tier-two cities.

Ms. Karandlaje said improved connectivity between Mysore and Bangalore was high on the priority of the Government, which, she said had handed over nearly 300 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India to facilitate the speedy completion of the Mysore airport. The landing facility would be available within three months while commercial operations at the airport would commence in six months, she added.

She said adequate funding had been provided for track doubling work between the two cities while a special nodal officer would be appointed to conceive, plan and implement all projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

“We will ensure that nearly Rs. 900 crore is fruitfully spent within the next five years,” she said. Subir Hari Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, said Mysore was high on the itinerary of visitors to Bangalore. He said that about 25 lakh tourists visited Mysore Palace last year which was around the same number of tourists who visited the Taj Mahal.

He said the Government had initiated a new concept in which landholders would link up with service players and other investors to create additional facilities for tourism development.

Managing Director of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) Nagaraj hinted at improvements in the power sector in the city and said Mysore would be a “transformer failure-free city” in three months while distribution loss would be reduced to 8 per cent.