MANGALURU: Deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayan C N said that works on the proposed IT park, on approximately five acres, will commence immediately. “Though tenders for setting up the park on the PPP model was called on several occasions in the past, and since there was no response, Smart City and Keonics will now develop the IT park in the city. The state government will provide all possible support. Keonics is considering acquiring another four acres of adjacent land,” he said.
The DCM was speaking at a day-long brainstorming conclave with thought leaders from academia, industry and the government, under the chairmanship of Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, which was presented by leadership advisory Centre for Contemporary Issues, with lead partner Keonics, on Wednesday. The objective of the conclave is to think through and come out with an action plan to make Mangaluru a global innovation hub for science and technology, on the lines of Silicon Valley in California.
“Innovation and technology will bring in a revolution, and the National Education Policy is also helping in this regard. Through Beyond Bengaluru, incentives will be provided to companies that will set up a base outside Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural. Meanwhile, in October, a summit on the lines of Bengaluru’s tech summit will be held in Mangaluru. Education institutions should support the development of innovation centres, incubators and accelerators,” he said.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that to address the issue of land shortage, a land bank with 10,000 acres should be set up. Not only Mangaluru city, but areas such as Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangady and Sullia have to be developed. Development should take place without hampering the culture and tradition of the region.
Speaking on the district’s development, Kateel said Mangaluru International Airport is recording progress, and the development of the New Mangalore Port Trust is taking place at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme. The Shiradi Ghat tunnel road project planning is in its final stages, and works on the Addahole-BC Road project will begin in March. The MP said that the administration must set a single-window system for companies wanting to set up a base in the district. According to a survey, in the year 2023, the turnover of Mangaluru’s software exports will be approximate Rs7,500 crore, he said, adding that an Udyoga Mela will be conducted in June.