If you can't shift industry out of Bangalore, take the State capital away from the city. This is the ‘capital’ solution of Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce to decongest the city.
The State government, it says, should explore the possibility of setting up a new capital somewhere in central Karnataka. The idea, apparently, was mooted during BCIC’s Karnataka Economic Summit of December last year by former chief secretary A. Ravindra, an expert on urban development matters.
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The chamber has included it in its detailed summit document and presented it to the State government last month, according to BCIC's outgoing president H.V. Harish.
He raised the topic at a news conference on Friday to discuss the chamber's engagement with the State’s economic agenda. Incoming chamber president, A.N. Chandramouli, said, "The government has tried a lot to move IT and other industries to Karnataka's hinterland but it has not worked. Why not move what we can move? The government owns significant real estate in key portions of Bangalore. That value can be realised for commercial and industrial activity and to create the other capital."
Mr. Chandramouli also said the seat of government should be easily accessible from all parts of the State. "Bangalore is in one corner of the State," he said.
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Building a new capital, he said, will bring a lot of energy within the State, ease the congestion in Bangalore and make the city people-friendly and industry-friendly.
Decades ago, a few individuals are said to have separately proposed Davanagere, Chitradurga and Hoovinahadagali in Bellary district for the capital city.
While BCIC has shared the idea with key political functionaries, it has not suggested any location. "You need to accept the concept before going ahead," Mr. Chandramouli said.