On June 20-21, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi was on a two-day visit to Bengaluru, Karnataka to lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth over Rs 28000 crore.
He also led the Mass Yoga Demonstration at Mysore Palace ground, Mysuru on the occasion of 8th International Day of Yoga (June 21, 2022) which was held on the theme ‘Yoga for Humanity’.
- It was organized by Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), and the Government of Karnataka which saw the participation of Basavaraj S Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka; Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for AYUSH, among others 15000 participants.
- It should be noted that the PM’s Yoga program at Mysuru was a part of the novel Guardian Yoga Ring program which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations (UN) organizations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga’s unifying power. It underlines the concept of One Sun, One earth.
Other Inaugurations:
i.Centre for Brain Research (CBR) was inaugurated in Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 280 crore, and foundation stone of 832 bedded Bagchi-Parthasarathy Multispeciality Hospital was also laid there.
- CBR is developed as a one of its kind research facility and focuses on conducting vital research to manage age-related brain disorders.
- On the other hand, hospital will help integrate science, engineering and medicine at the prestigious institute.
ii.Unveiled the statue of Dr BR (Bhimrao Ramji) Ambedkar at Dr. B R Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) University, Bengaluru, and inaugurated its new campus.
- BASE was set up in 2017 in recognition of the contributions made by Dr. BR Ambedkar in the development of Independent India and as a tribute to his 125th birth anniversary.
iii.Dedicated to the Nation 150 Technology Hubs that have been developed by transforming Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Karnataka with an outlay of over Rs 4600 crore.
- It aims to create a skilled workforce to address Industry 4.0 manpower needs.
Projects for Enhancing Mobility and Boosting Connectivity in Bengaluru:
i.Dedicated to the Nation, India’s first Air Conditioned Railway Station – Sir M Visvesvaraya Railway Station at Baiyappanahalli, which is developed on the lines of a modern airport at a total cost of around Rs 315 crore.
ii.The PM laid the foundation stone of Bengaluru Suburban rail project (BSRP) of over Rs 15,700 crore, which will connect Bengaluru with its suburbs and satellite townships.
- The project envisages 4 corridors with a total route length of over 148 Kms.
iii.PM also laid the foundation stone of redevelopment of Bengaluru Cantt. (Outlay- around Rs 500 crore), and Yesvantpur Junction railway station (Outlay- around Rs 375 crore).
iv.He also dedicated to the Nation the 100% electrification of the Konkan railway line (about 740 Kms) from Roha (Maharashtra) to Thokur (Karnataka) by flagging of Electric trains from Udupi, Madagaon and Ratnagiri.
- This electrification has been done at a cost of more than Rs 1280 crore.
v.He also dedicates to the Nation, two railway line doubling projects : Arsikere to Tumkuru (around 96 km) and Yelahanka to Penukonda (around 120 km) by flagging off passenger trains and MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) service respectively.
- The two railway line doubling projects have been developed at a cost of more than Rs 750 crore and Rs 1100 crore respectively.
vi.PM also laid the foundation stone of two sections of the Bengaluru Ring Road project at a cost of more than Rs 2280 crore.
- It will help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
vii.The foundation stone of various other road projects viz. six laning of Nelamangala-Tumkur section of NH-48; widening of Punjalkatte-Charmadi section of NH-73; rehabilitation and upgradation of a section of NH-69 were also laid.
- The cumulative cost of these projects is about Rs 3150 crore.
viii.The foundation stone of Multi Modal Logistics Park was laid, which is being developed at Muddalinganahalli, at a cost of about Rs 1800 crore.
- It will help in lowering the transportation, handling and secondary freight costs.
PM in Mysuru:
i.During a public function at Maharaja’s College Ground, Mysuru, the PM laid the foundation stone of coaching terminal at Naganahalli Railway Station at a cost of over Rs 480 crore; and
ii.He also dedicated to the nation the ‘Centre of Excellence for persons with Communication Disorders’ at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH).
- It is equipped with state of the art laboratories and facilities for diagnosis, assessment and rehabilitation of persons with communication disorders.
iii.He also visited Sri Suttur Math, and Sri Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru.
Key Points:
i.The completion of all the above projects flagged off by the PM will result in a 2% increase in Karnataka’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
ii.He also inaugurated the main tunnel and five underpasses of the Delhi’s Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project, an integral part of the Pragati Maidan redevelopment exercise at a cost of about Rs 923 crores.
Recent Related News:
i.The Karnataka State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister (CM) Basavaraj Bommai, gave nod to name the under-construction Shivamogga airport after the former CM Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa, the proposal will now be sent to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for further clearance.
ii.Karnataka will set up the ‘Nandini Ksheera Samridhi Sahakara Bank’, India’s first dairy co-operative bank to provide financial strength for milk producers of Karnataka.
About Karnataka:
Governor– Thawarchand Gehlot
Folk Dance– Yakshagana, Dollu Kunitha
International Airports– Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru , and Mangalore Airport/Bhajpe Airport
