Stakeholders in the city chalked out a wish-list for the development of Mysuru and reposition it as an investment destination so as to shore up the local economy.
The thrust was on infrastructure development, keeping in view the city’s requirements for the next couple of decades. The wish-list will be submitted to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and will apprise him of their importance for the city’s growth prospects.
At a preliminary meeting convened by the former MP A.H.Vishwanath of the Congress, the stakeholders listed out connectivity as an important issue and the imperatives of strengthening it to link the city with other regions. In view of the region’s importance for tourism, the importance of linking all places of tourist importance with Mysuru was underlined by M.Lakshman of the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM).
Issues related to connectivity included construction of satellite and suburban bus stands on the outskirts of the city to obviate the need for buses to enter the city which will help decongest the core market and heritage areas; make efforts to upgrade the Mysuru airport to bring back air-link to the region without which investments will be hard to come by.
The ACICM also wanted the State Government to cooperate with the Railways to provide better infrastructure and rail connectivity to Mysuru. However, it was pointed out that increase in train traffic and frequency hinged on the operational capacity of the Mysuru station and hence development of second railway terminal at Belagola was emphasised.
The Mysore Industries Association (MIA) submitted a 7-point charter for the development of industries that included release of funds for the construction of an export centre which will benefit the local industries. The other demands included release of Rs. 30 crore for civic amenities including asphalting of roads, provision of drinking water and maintenance of streetlights in the industrial areas, early completion of the Industry Facilitation Centre etc.
The meeting assumes significance in view of the growing perception that the city’s growth and development was not high on the agenda of the State Government as many of the promises made in the State budget have not been implemented.
