K'taka Cabinet decides to invite tender for BMIC project

Bangalore, Aug 30 (UNI) The Karnataka Cabinet today decided to invite global tender, under the Swiss Challenge based on a proposal submitted by Global Infrastructure Limited, for taking up the controversial Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, after obtaining permission from the Supreme Court.

In a post-Cabinet briefing here, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj S Horatti said the decision followed a High Court observation while disposing of a writ petition on the issue that excess of 20,193 acres of land should not be handed over to those who execute the project.

He said the Apex Court was hearing a petition filed by the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) with regard to implementation of the project and the State Government would seek the court's permission before inviting global tender. The Government also decided to cancel some sub clauses of the framework agreement, signed on August nine, 2002, with the NICE, to prevent it from selling the land acquired from the Government for the project.

To a query, the Minister said the NICE had taken possession of over 6,000 acres of land for the project. He clarified that NICE could also bid afresh along with others if it desired to execute the project within 20,193 acres as specified earlier.

UNI