Industrialists in K'taka happy over BMIC project inaugural

Bangalore, June 16 (UNI) Industrialists in Karnataka today expressed happiness over the inaugural of a section of the first phase of the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project, and extended their support to such ventures as it ushered in a fast pace of development.

Discounting the growing protests from farmers IT major Infosys Human Resource Head Mohandas Pai said such projects should get support from one and all as this was the best way of bringing in prosperity to the state.

Talking to UNI at the venue of the inaugural of a section of the first phase of the project phase of the project promoted by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), he said that they had here to lend their voice in support to projects like BMIC. We are eagerly waiting for the first phase to be completed. The people of Hosur road and Peenya, the two major industrial hubs in the state, have been suffering for long due to lack of suitable connectivity.

We should support such projects and they are important for development,'' he said.

Bharat Forge Chairman Baba Kalyani, also the Chairman of NICE, said disputes creeping up in such vital projects would demoralise the investors. ''Dissatisfaction is common while executing such big projects, but it should be solved amicably,'' he added.

The 111-km expressway project, which would reduce the over three-hour travelling time between the two major cities of Karnataka by half, was conceived 11 years ago. It proved to be the most controversial project taken up by private investors in the state till date. The contract for the project was signed in 1995 during the regime of Mr H D Deve Gowda and the Framework Agreement was signed in 1997 by late Chief Minister J H Patel. However, the construction could be taken up only four years later due to several roadblocks.

However, the Janata Dal (S), the ruling coalition partner, had been at loggerheads with NICE eversince it assumed power in the state four months ago. It had been accusing NICE of having acquired excess land for the project. While NICE denied the allegation, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was firm on taking over the project by bringing in legislation.

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